More than 270 Irish people jailed overseas have sought consular assistance from the State since 2013. That is according to figures provided by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, who said that his department last year provided consular assistance to Irish people jailed overseas in 53 new cases. The Tánaiste said already this year his department has provided consular assistance to a further 11 Irish people in foreign jails. “It is impossible to provide precise statistics for the number of Irish citizens detained or imprisoned overseas. “Support and assistance in all such cases is provided on a non-judgemental basis, irrespective of the offence of which the citizen has been accused or convicted,” he said.

Source: Irish Examiner March 30, 2018 22:52 UTC