Jailed water-charge protesters begin hunger strike
Some of the water charges protestors who were jailed earlier this week for breaching court orders have gone on hunger strike.
Derek Byrne has stated that he and other protestors are refusing food after being moved from Mountjoy to Wheatfield prison in Clondalkin.
In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Mr Byrne says the move is politically motivated, and makes it harder for his family to visit him.
He says he will refuse fluids if he is not moved back by Monday evening, and is calling for "silent, peaceful" candlelit vigils to be held outside the homes of politicians.
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan described the detention of water charge protesters in Dublin as outrageous.
Speaking after the anti-water charges march in Dublin today Ms. Boylan said: “Today again thousands of anti-water charge activists marched in Dublin to protest against the jailing of water charge protesters on Friday.
“Despite the scale of disgust at the ongoing detention of peaceful protesters this government continues to pat itself on the back for an alleged job well done. Instead of continuing with the love-in in Castlebar this weekend the Taoiseach would be better placed using his speech to announce the scrapping of water charges.
“The jailing of water charge protesters is appalling. These are citizens who engaged in peaceful protest as part of one of the biggest mass movements that we have seen in many years.
“It is especially galling when we see corrupt developers, politicians and bankers walk free after playing a leading role in destroying the Irish economy.”
