Go see the demeaning conditions at the Kinsale Road asylum centre

Residents of the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre recently demanded that their human rights and dignity be restored and that applications for refugee status be dealt with swiftly.

These people have fled persecution only to end up trapped in this country, with no right to work. They are warm, intelligent, often well-educated people who stave off depression through mutual moral support, but they are exasperated.

Far too many have been waiting more than five years, and up to 10 years in some cases.

The day-to-day running of these protection centres is still based (according to the Ombudsman in charge of overseeing the situation) on initial emergency legislation and it is not at all suited to long-term stays.

There are no recreation rooms, nowhere for children to play and, perhaps worst of all, no possibility for people to cook. Most of the children have never enjoyed a home-cooked meal in their lives. Status needs to be extended to those people who acted peacefully for change.

The cramped living conditions there are heartbreaking: adequate for six months or even for a year, but certainly not for, as in one man’s case, 15 years.

Finally, the press are free to enter this centre, thanks to those who initiated the protest. I strongly suggest that you, and your readers, avail of this change in regime to go and see the centre for yourself.

Catriona Ryan

Anam Cara

Robert’s Cove

Co Cork