Residents at the direct provision centre in Mosney this morning held a protest over their treatment at the facility.

Around 30 people gathered at the front gate of the Meath centre between 7am and 10am.

Residents told Newstalk that they were protesting the direct provision system – and the way they are treated by staff and management at the centre.

The demonstration was organised after a mother-of-three at the centre was hospitalised after trying to take her own life.

Her son is sick and she became upset when she was told they were going to be moved out of Mosney.

"Cry for help"

The woman's sister said she was left in a desperate situation.

“The residents went out at 7am because this was also a cry for help,” she said.

“People were like, ‘could you please just listen.’”

Residents warned that they were fearful of raising issues with management in case they are punished for speaking out.

Demonstration

These women say they had no choice but to protest.

“We agreed that we wanted to go outside because we wanted them to pay attention to us,” said one.

“It was really difficult for a lot of people to come out because they are scared that if they come out to protest, they would not give them their papers. They would be sent out of Mosney.

“They want to be listened to; to be heard; to be treated like a human being – like every other Irish person.”

Mosney has been a Direct Provision centre since 2002.

There are currently nearly 700 residents in the centre.

You can listen to Newstalk reporter Barry Whyte’s full report here: