By Ciara O’Loughlin

Copyright irishmirror

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly said it’s “unforgiveable” that industrial abuse survivors have been on hunger strike for nine days. Four victims have been sleeping rough near Leinster House and without food since September 21 as they call for long-promised state support. Survivor Maurice O’Connell, 57, said they will not stop until Education Minister Helen McEntee, who holds responsibility for survivors’ redress schemes, agrees to their demands. They are calling for a HAA medical card for all survivors of industrial and reformatory schools and a full contributory state pension in recognition of the forced labour carried out as children while under the care of the State. Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Ms Connolly said these demands are more than fair, and that the State is “adding abuse to abuse” by allowing this strike. The Independent presidential candidate said: “I can’t believe they are here nine days, I think it’s unforgivable of the establishment that women after what they have gone through have to stand here for nine days with no food. (The medical card) is the most basic item, that they would have to go on hunger strike is an indictment of the system. “I can’t use any more words, I’ve used all my words in the Dáil at different points and at this stage I feel helpless watching four people and all of the others with them on hunger strike for nine days. This has to be resolved urgently. We cannot let people continue on a hunger strike. The most basic element that they want is a special medical card, that’s the most basic element.” Ms Connolly said the trust of these people who have suffered at the hands of the state are being broken “again and again”. She added: “It’s totally unacceptable, we are talking about a finite number of people and a finite amount of money. If we are to call ourselves a republic it should be done. “It’s more than forgotten, it’s adding abuse to abuse.” Mr O’Connell, who experienced abuse, neglect, and rape from the age five while under the state’s protection in Pembroke Alms Industrial School, said they will not give up. This is despite the group of survivors including Mary Donovan, 57, Miriam Moriarty Owens, 68 and Mary Dunlevy Green, 73, feeling faint, exhausted and cold in the tent. The Kerry man said: “The Minister was worried about our health. She wanted us to stop over the weekend but we said no until we met her directly. “We are still going to go all the way until she agrees with what we are looking for. We are determined to keep this up. People ask us when we are going to give up and we say put it back on the Government- how long are they going to let us go? None of us are giving up, when will they stop the hunger strike?” An EMT has been taking bloods and looking after the group since Tuesday night at their encampment. Ms Dunlevy Green, from Limerick, said it’s not difficult for them to go hungry as they experienced this while in industrial school. The 73-year-old was in The Mount from 1954 to 1970 and as a child she was subjected to hard labour, isolation, neglect, had minimal food and a lack of proper education. She said: “It’s going to have an effect on our health, welfare, mental health. You don’t feel the hunger. We were hungry for years when we were in these institutions and it’s bringing us back there, we can stay hungry forever. “We have to get the true narrative out there of what went on in these institutions.” The Department of Education has been contacted for comment. For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here