A number of protesters jailed this week for breaching a court injunction are continuing their hunger strike today.
It comes after they were moved from Mountjoy Prison to Wheatfield Prison in Clondalkin, which they say is politically motivated.
In a statement on his Facebook page last night, Derek Byrne said they began the hunger strike on Friday night - and will refuse fluids if they are not moved back by Monday evening.
The statement on Facebook reads:
This is Siobhan Walsh releasing a statement on behalf of Mr Derek Byrne.
We have been locked up/confined to a cell for the last 3 days on complete lock down in Wheatfield Prison.
We were moved out of Mountjoy because of a political decision.
We have taken the steps to go on hunger strike and have been on hunger strike since yesterday, If we are not moved back to Mountjoy Training Unit as we were told we would be then on Monday morning we will be taking it further and refusing fluids until we are moved back to Mountjoy. It is harder for our families to make the journey to Clondalkin to visit us.
Every decision made from our court cases to our incarceration has been of a political nature. 2 young children are been kept from their Father and are now in an emotionally distraught state , their Mothers are now been denied financial aid by the Father as he is currently been incarcerated by the state as he refuses to back down from 1. a point of principle and 2. he believes there is a better way forward for the people of this country.
We ask that there be daily protests at shopping centers connected to main roads and to keep our stories highlighted. We ask that the politicians (All TD's FG LB FF) are made to pay for these decisions and for people to hold SILENT PEACEFUL CANDLE VIGILS outside their houses.
David McGuiness of FF has said that the water meter protests have led to an increase of burglaries and other areas, NOT TRUE! Water meter protests have nothing to do with an increase in crime, lack of Garda resources and funding by the government have led to an increase in crime, Water meter protesters have committed No crime!. These are the people that are standing and fighting for a better future for everyone in this country. We again ask that Enda Kenny & his government resign. We'd like to thank everyone for their support and continued support. Derek Byrne.
