Prison attack exposes our inhumanity - Cloverhill riot

Anti-racism organisations in Ireland are naturally concerned for the welfare of Walli Ullah, an asylum seeker seriously injured in Wednesday’s riot at Cloverhill prison in Dublin.

Two weeks ago, the 21-year-old Afghan man was found on the side of the M7 motorway near Naas, Co Kildare. Ullah had fled Afghanistan in fear of his life. He arrived in Ireland after travelling for at least three months stowed away in a lorry.

When he was discovered, he was arrested because non-EU nationals in the State must be able to produce a passport or a recognised proof of identification. This very odd ‘crime’ — reminiscent of fascist regimes — carries with it a fine of €3,000 or 12 months in prison.