Hundreds of demonstrators who oppose the opening of an asylum centre in East Wall are set to bring the city to a standstill again this evening at 5pm.
Protesters have taken to the streets regularly since November 19 after it emerged an old ESB building was being used to house refugees.
Nigel Murphy, who is involved in organising the protests, told The Irish Mirror: “From the beginning, I went inside, I looked at the conditions and I thought from the off that it wasn’t safe and healthy for human habitation.”
Read More: East Wall protesters call for referendum on how refugees are accommodated
The Irish Mirror understands families, including women and children, were bussed into the building earlier this week, with a large proportion of those coming from the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
He added: “I don’t believe the building is suitable for women and children in any way shape or form. I realised that the windows don’t open and that they were going to mix women and children in with single men, I felt that that was unsafe.
“They’re taking showers in the same areas as men.”
One asylum seeker said the conditions inside the ESB building are untenable and said it’s worse than a prison cell.
Last Monday, demonstrators split into three groups at the Port Tunnel’s entrance, the East Wall Road junction, and on Alexandra Road which is the entrance to Dublin Port.
The Port Tunnel and Dublin Port were shut down for more than 45 minutes which caused tailbacks across the capital as motorists tried to find alternative routes.
The East Wall Committee, who organise the demonstrations, said the “protests will escalate nationwide if this government does not close this centre in its entirety.”
Local resident and solicitor Malachy Steenson said during a recent protest: “Two weeks ago, this issue which is the biggest issue facing this country wasn’t being talked about publicly.
“People were sitting at their dinner tables talking about it in quiet tones, afraid of the reaction they would get.
“Because of the people of East Wall and how they stood up against what was happening, this is the only topic of conversation in this country in the Dail, in the Seanad, and across the media.”
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