Some 35 asylum seekers living at a hostel near Galway were in emergency overnight accommodation in Dublin last Thursday after handing in a letter to the Department of Justice.
They claim they are being subjected to a regime of daily intimidation at the Dun Gibbons hostel in Clifden, Co Galway, and that overall the conditions there are “unbearable”.
It is thought that at least 20 more had planned to attend, but then withdrew for fear of reprisals. Those who did protest said that they were “afraid” to go back to Clifden.
They also complained of alleged sub-standard provisions, one of them producing a plastic container of discoloured water that they said they were given as drinking water.
While the majority asked not to be identified, ad hoc spokesperson Toyin Ayodele was willing to be interviewed, and told Metro Éireann: “Yes, we are scared. The highest fear of an asylum seeker is to be deported.”
According to her, management has informed them that they should keep in mind their precarious status in Ireland.
“So you get scared and you go back to your room and start crying,” she said. “That’s what we have been going through for over three years. If you make an appointment to change an accommodation, [management] stops it. We’re scared to go inside but we can’t take it any longer.”
Other complaints were that families had been split up after the fathers were transferred to different centres, and that a clique of chosen residents known as “The Committee” was set up to strengthen control over the rest.
An uncorroborated claim from one source alleged that on one occasion a resident was physically assaulted.
At press time, the residents had returned to Dun Gibbons hostel. It is not known if any of the issues have been remedied
A spokesperson for Dun Gibbons said that the hostel rigorously adheres to all food health and safety guidelines.
By Simon Walsh
