A 29-year-old Irishman has been found dead in a prison cell in Portugal. He was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting his partner.
Ryan Chan, 29, from the Letterkenny area of Donegal, was found unresponsive in his cell at a prison in Albufeira on Tuesday. Police in Albufeira said it is suspected that he committed suicide.
Portugal's Republican National Guard said in a statement, "Early this morning, a 29-year-old citizen was found dead inside his cell, detained at the territorial subdivision of the GNR in Albufeira. Police confirmed the cause of death as suicide. The National Guard said the man had been detained since last night after allegedly attacking his 29-year-old partner with a knife (a bladed weapon).
Mr Chan, who is well-known in Letterkenny, was jailed overnight after allegedly attacking his partner with a knife. The next morning, prison officers made the shocking discovery that Chan was dead in his cell.
Mr Chan and his partner were attending a wedding in Portugal. A 20-year-old woman was assaulted and treated for stab wounds. The woman was later released.
Meanwhile, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance to Mr Chant's family.
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