Ireland

Irish man found dead in Portuguese cell after alleged attack on partner named locally as Ryan Chan

The Letterkenny man was found lifeless in cell on Wednesday morning

Ryan Chan, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was found dead in a police cell in Albufeira, Portugal, on Wednesday.
Ryan Chan, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was found dead in a police cell in Albufeira, Portugal, on Wednesday.

The Co Donegal man who was found dead in a police cell in Portugal following an alleged attack on his partner has been named locally.

Ryan Chan, who was 29 and from Letterkenny, was found dead in the cell in the town of Albufeira in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

It is understood Mr Chan and his partner were in the popular Algarve resort to attend a wedding.

Mr Chan was arrested after allegedly stabbing his partner, who was injured but survived the attack.

In a statement, Portugal’s National Republican Guard was discovered lifeless, and was pronounced dead upon the arrival of emergency services.

“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.”



The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust confirmed to the Irish News that the charity is assisting in bringing Mr Chan’s remains back to Ireland.

The Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is providing consular assistance to his family.