Campaigner to take asylum seekers’ complaints to Department of Justice

A CAMPAIGNER for refugees says he’s going to bring complaints raised by asylum seekers at a city hostel in Waterford to the attention of the Department of Justice.

Rev John Rochford says he’s been inundated with complaints from residents of the Birchwood Lodge Accommodation Centre, which houses up to 50 non-nationals at any one time.

Several hostel residents went on local radio and complained about the food.

They also say they are not allowed to have visitors and complain about the attitude of staff towards them. One woman described herself as “a prisoner” in the centre.

The Department of Justice says a conference took place there last week and no complaints or issues were raised. But a spokesperson said a report into the centre has been initiated.