The residents of the former Skellig Star hotel are demanding they are relocated from the location that has “traumatised” them.

A group of asylum seekers staying in Direct Provision in the former Skellig Star hotel in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry have gone on hunger strike in response to the poor conditions in the residential centre.

The centre was opened by the Department of Justice & Equality on March 18 in response to the pandemic. However, there were 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Direct Provision centre and those who tested positive were moved off-site to isolate.

This person living in inhumane and cruel direct provision in the Skellig Star hotel Caherciveen is on hunger strike. They are being rationed one litre of water a day. This sytem is a for profit system, it is privatised internment with profits coming from public money. https://t.co/eNVHfuJ60U

— The Blindboy Podcast (@Rubberbandits) July 28, 2020

There have been repeated calls for the centre to be closed due to the inhumane conditions that the residents are living in.

In a statement today the group for those living in the centre said that the “past and present government has not done anything to help us from this open prison”.

They continued to say, “We have sent emails several times highlighting  how we have suffered physically, socially, mentally and emotionally due to the treatment received in the hands of IPAS during COVID and post COVID.”

According to the statement, the group has three key demands: to have access to a social worker, to be transferred to an “appropriate accommodation” centre where they can have a vulnerability assessment and for the centre to be to either Mosney accommodation centre or Tullamore accommodation centre. 

You can read the resident’s statement below:

#shutskelligstar The residents’ statement. pic.twitter.com/2s1gna2WQQ — Solidarity with Skellig Star Hotel Residents (@CahersiveenDP) July 28, 2020

If you would like to learn more about what Direct Provision is click here.

You can help support those in Direct Provision by donating to MASI here.

Photo: Journal.ie