Hunger striker gets attention of minister

THE Agriculture Minister is to examine the circumstances of an unemployed father who is on hunger strike after being refused social welfare payments.

Ray Barry, from Carrigaline, Co Cork, said he felt he had no other option but to protest after he was turned down for jobseeker’s allowance following a means test.

The married father of two young children, whose wife Karen works, has been on hunger strike outside his local social welfare office since Saturday.