Cork direct provision residents 'terrified' to speak out about Covid-19

Solicitor Anne McShane represents a number of families and individuals around Ireland in their applications for international protection, including residents at the Kinsale Rd direct provision (DP) centre.
Ms McShane told The Echo that some of her clients at the Kinsale Rd centre are vulnerable to Covid-19 due to underlying illnesses or being pregnant and that they are terrified of contracting the virus but also of speaking out.
“Since the lockdown in March, I’ve been contacting my clients throughout the country to check on them and make sure they’re okay,” she said.
“They’re terrified — and they’re afraid to say anything in case it affects their application for asylum.
“I know people protested in Caherciveen,but that really was the exception,” she added.
“People are genuinely terrified and worried that if they say they’re not happy with the conditions, it will affect their cases.
“They’re also terrified of getting Covid-19, understandably.”