Garda maintain a strong presence

Garda operation: Gardaí closed off the access street to St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin yesterday morning after the Church of Ireland authorities asked them to try to end the protest by 41 Afghan asylum seekers, it has emerged.

The closure of St Patrick's Close, the only access route to the cathedral, along with a strong Garda presence, means protesters who leave for any reason - such as obtaining medical treatment - will not be permitted to return. Until yesterday, people who left for treatment could return to the cathedral.

Yesterday four of the asylum seekers were taken away by ambulance. The remaining 37 were all reportedly on hunger and thirst strike last night - a factor which gardaí believe may result in a heavy rate of attrition over the weekend, thus pushing the protest to a conclusion.

Gardaí maintained a low-key presence in St Patrick's Close until around 9am yesterday morning. At that point between 50 and 60 uniformed gardaí took up positions at both ends of the lane where media and protesters gathered throughout yesterday.

A further 20 gardaí were posted in the grounds around the cathedral. Uniformed members were relieved by their colleagues from Kevin Street Garda station, adjacent to the cathedral.

The station's proximity to the protest site has meant a rolling Garda presence can be easily maintained. Up to 20 Garda cars and vans were parked in the lane yesterday. Members of the Public Order Unit were also on standby in Kevin Street station in case the protest escalated. There was no sign of any such developments last night.

A few officers remained in the church yesterday and overnight. They kept a watch on proceedings and were not negotiating with protesters. Gardaí said they were most likely to maintain their presence in and around the church over the weekend.

But while they were understood to be seeking court warrants late last night to enter the church sources said their preference was to avoid this course of action for at least 24-48 hours.

"We are watching and waiting and we want to keep it that way but it is difficult to say how this is going to end," said a Garda source.

Industrial relations consultant Phil Flynn, who visited the men twice this week, returned to speak to them yesterday in an attempt to broker an end to the protest. The Irish Times understands he was asked to come to visit the men after the church authorities advised them Mr Flynn might assist them. His efforts failed yesterday. Government sources said the men were demanding refugee status as a precondition for ending their protest. They said this was not negotiable.

It is understood that anti-racism activists arranged for a barrister and solicitor to act for the men in their asylum claims. But the group refused to sign consent forms which would have allowed the lawyers act for them.

A group of up to 200 protesters had gathered outside the cathedral last night. Some became embroiled in arguments with passers-by who shouted in favour of gardaí and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell's handling of the events.