The Department of Foreign Affairs is working to secure the release of an Irishman jailed in Senegal over a prank outside a local governor's house.
The student has spent almost three weeks locked up in Senegal after the prank went wrong.
Patrick Devine, from Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, was arrested last month after dropping his trousers and "mooning" outside the home of one of the country's governors in Saint Louis.
The Queen's University Belfast engineering student had travelled to the west African state earlier this summer in a group from the Teaching and Projects Abroad (TPA) scheme to work with street children.
Mr Devine was arrested on July 27th after a local man saw the prank and held him and other members of the group until police arrived. He has been in custody since and after several days in police cells he was moved to the prison La Maison de la Correction.
It is understood the 19-year-old pulled the stunt as part of a series of dares made up by members of the TPA group.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed staff from the embassy in neighbouring Nigeria had been working to secure his release.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today: "It is a very unfortunate case. There is a judicial process in train now. Staff in the Department are doing their level best and we are also liaising with EU member states and other countries who have embassies in Senegal."
"I spoke to the young man's mother after the incident happened and assured her that the Department and its officials abroad were doing everything possible to resolve the situation. It is one of many cases the Department has to deal with on a daily basis around the world now."
The TPA group also said efforts were going on behind the scenes to try to secure his release.
PA