Six failed asylum-seekers being held in Mountjoy prison in Dublin are continuing their hunger and thirst strikes today.
The four Nigerians and two Algerians, who are awaiting deportation, began the hunger strike last night. They told prison authorities they were taking the action in protest over being treated as criminals.
Immigration gardaí visited the prison yesterday evening in an effort to dissuade the men from their action. It is the first action of this kind taken by asylum-seekers detained pending deportation from the Republic.
The men, aged between 24 and 39, were placed under medical supervision after they informed the prison authorities of their protest.
All have deportation orders outstanding against them and have been held for periods ranging from a month to several days since their arrests, having failed to report to gardaí to arrange for their departures as requested.