Donegal man found dead in police cell in Portugal named locally

THE Donegal man who was found dead in a cell in Portugal has been named locally as Ryan Chan.

The 29-year-old from Letterkenny was arrested in Albufeira, on the Algarve, on Tuesday evening and taken into police custody where he was kept overnight.

He had been detained following an alleged attack on his partner.

Colin Bell, of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, told the Donegal News this morning that the charity is assisting in the repatriation of Mr Chan’s remains.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, the Portuguese National Republican Guard confirmed that in the early hours of Wednesday morning the man was found lifeless in his cell.

Emergency services were immediately alerted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The National Guard also confirms that the individual had been detained since the previous night, following attacks on his 29-year-old partner, using a knife (bladed weapon),” the force said.

“The circumstances of the death inside the cell are being investigated, and the Guard is ensuring the necessary co-ordination with other agencies, namely the judiciary police, the public prosecutor’s office and the general inspectorate of internal administration.”

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

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