Asylum seekers in Ireland cannot continue to live in the current system of direct provision accommodation, the minister for education has stated.

Around 300 people attended a protest in Limerick city to call for the abolishment of direct provision centres which house asylum seekers in this country.

There have been repeated calls for the closure of an asylum seekers’ hostel in Co Limerick where gardaí have been called on a number of occasions in the past week due to disturbances over conditions there.

As four asylum seekers continued to refuse food at a hostel accommodation near Foynes, it emerged yesterday a number of residents involved in last week’s protests at the centre have been transferred, some to Cork.

A 33-year-old Afghan who fought the Taliban and is now on hunger strike yesterday appeared in court charged with causing criminal damage at a direct provision centre in Co Limerick.

Three asylum seekers were yesterday refusing food at a direct provision centre in Co Limerick.

A group of protesting asylum seekers who claimed to be on hunger strike at an accommodation centre in Co Limerick have been transferred to other asylum hostels, management at the privately operated Mount Trenchard centre have said.

A COMMUNITY has been shattered and devastated at the death of a Limerick school teacher in a freak accident, mourners heard yesterday.