Asylum seekers in tents on Dublin street claim they were attacked at alternative site
Refugee tents are back on Mount St, Dublin, after the area was cleared outside the International Protect offices last weekend. Picture: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Asylum seekers who have returned to live in tents on Mount St, Dublin, have claimed they left an alternative site provided in Crooksling because they were attacked, while conditions were “terrible".Â
On Saturday, a growing tent city that has been in operation for months in the inner city, was dismantled by the Government, and occupants were moved to the Crooksling site in South Dublin.
However, by that evening, they began returning again. On Monday, there were nearly 40 tents erected by asylum seekers returning to the site as well as new arrivals.
A demonstration took place outside the Crooksling site by anti-asylum seeker protestors.
Speaking to the one 28-year-old Palestinian man said he arrived 13 days ago and was part of the group moved to Crooksling.
He said: “I have two children left behind, I come from a very bad war. I am in Ireland 13 days. If I knew it was going to be this bad in Ireland and living like this, I would not have come here.
“We were given tents and some food, and a cover over the tent. I am from Palestine and my children are there. I go first to get international protection. Unfortunately, I cannot care for my children myself, I hope that nobody dies and continues to live back home.
“The situation [here] is very very bad. I come here and meet others from Palestine. The people here now they are from Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. More people are coming here.
A makeshift camp site was erected in Crooksling over the weekend by the Government ahead of St Patrick's weekend, and asylum seekers on Mount St were offered a place to stay.
Conditions had deteriorated in the area in the city centre, as tents fell in during the snow. Nearly 200 asylum seekers were living there with no sanitary facilities. The corner of the street was being used as an open toilet, and the stench of urine and rubbish filled the air.
On Monday, while the area has been disinfected, it is now cornered off with a makeshift cover and is again being used as toilet by the men.
While it seemed like a better option to move to Crooksling, rather than live in appalling conditions outside the International Protection Accommodation Services offices on Mount St, asylum seekers were returning to their old spot along with newly arrived applicants.
The latest figures now show 1,308 asylum seekers are without accommodation in Ireland — those figures will be updated on Tuesday.
On Monday, three gardaĂ were patrolling the area on Mount St where the tents are pitched and extend around to Grattan St East.
Another man, aged 40 from Palestine, said he left his four children behind because he had to flee from his homeland.
He said: “I was in the other tented area [Crooksling]. It was very bad. It is cold and bad conditions. I was there for two days, but I came back today.
“I think this is a very bad place, but this is a bit better [Mount St]. I have to leave Palestine because of the war, and I want to get my children out now too.
“I regret now I came to Ireland because this is a very bad place to live in a tent like this. You cannot bring the children here.”
The Department of Integration said there is a full suite of security in place at Crooksling, and the Department has liaised with An Garda Siochána in relation to the move.Â
"Anyone who chooses to leave Crooksling is of course entitled to make that choice. However, for their own safety and health, the Department does not recommend anyone return to Mount St as it does not have the facilities or security," it said.
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