Hunger Strike Enters 61st Day

cork | miscellaneous | news report Sunday November 09, 2003 17:44 by Concerned

Co. Cork man on hunger strike against what he claims is a systematic campaign of garda harrassment

Frank Collins of Ballinspittle, Co. Cork has entered the 61st day of a hunger strike. Mr Collins says he undertook the hunger strike in protest at what he considers to be a campaign of harassment by gardaí over a period of thirty years. Mr Collins has engaged in three previous hunger strikes; on the third occasion, the Garda Commissioner, Pat Byrne, and the Minister for Justice, John O’Donoghue, persuaded Mr Collins to end his hunger strike with a promise of an enquiry into his allegations. However, according to Mr Collins, the enquiry failed to materialise.
Mr Collins is currently resident in a caravan hitched to a car, which is located outside the parish church of Ballinspittle. His hunger strike has been reported by the Sunday Tribune and the Evening Echo (Cork). Though the Irish Times dispatched a reported and photographer, a report did not appear in the paper, apparently due to legal fears on the part of the newspaper.
Mr Collins says he fears for his safety and will continue his hunger strike until he dies unless his grievances are addressed by the Minister for Justice.