The Mirror, October, 25, 2001

The family of a young Dublin man jailed in Thailand since June are afraid he will be killed or kill himself if he is not released.

Taxi driver Mario Higgins, 29, of Coolock said his younger brother Wesley was shackled 24-hours a day since being arrested for stealing a pounds 100 camera in Phuket.

The 22-year old bike courier is sharing one filthy cell with 160 other prisoners, including sex offenders and violent criminals.

Mario said his brother stole after being left penniless when his holiday money was nicked.

He returned from visiting Wesley this week and said: "He's lost two stone, he has some kind of skin disease and he's in dire pain from abscesses on his teeth.'

The family has appealed for Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen to intervene.