Government 'monitoring' man's arrest in West Bank

The chorus calling for the release of the Irish language activist, Mr Seán Ó Muireagáin, who was arrested by Israeli authorities over the weekend at a checkpoint near the West Bank town of Ramallah has grown louder this afternoon.

Both Sinn Fein and the SDLP have called for the man's release and the Government has confirmed it is "monitoring the situation".

"Sean O'Muireagain is a well-known Irish language activist who had devoted a considerable amount of his time to promoting Irish language activities across the North," the SDLP's Mr Sean Farren said.

"The Irish Government must use its influence to ensure his immediate release and relieve the concern of his family at his arrest," he added.

Sinn Fein's Mr Gerry Adams also asked the Government to intervene to secure his release.

"Sinn Fein has been in contact with the Irish Government and the Israeli Embassy in Dublin voicing our concern about his arrest and calling for Sean O Muireagain to be immediately released," he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told ireland.comthat the Government had been in touch with the British authorities who have been in contact with the man and are continuing to monitor the situation.

"We did not receive notification [of the man's detention] because he was travelling on a British passport," the DFA spokesperson said. The British embassy in Tel Aviv is understood to have made contact with the man and the Government has been in touch with the British concerning the case.

Meanwhile, Israeli radio has reported that the arrest of a Belfast man at a checkpoint in Ramallah at the weekend was "a mistake".

A report carried by the BBCsaid the Voice of Israelhad reported that Mr Seán Ó Muireagáin's arrest could be a "case of mistaken identity".

Mr Ó Muireagáin's parents, Mrs Theresa and Mr John Morgan, have been trying to get information on their son from the Israeli embassy in Dublin.

Mr Ó Muireagáin's father said he had no confirmation from the British or Irish embassy that his son had been arrested.

He is understood to have been held by the Israeli Shin Bet secret service on the word of British intelligence services.

Mr Ó Muireagáin is a part-time journalist and well-known campaigner on issues related to the Irish language and the cause of the Palestinians.

He was in the occupied territories to set up links between primary schools in Ireland and Palestine.

Mr Ó Muireagáin is chairman of the board of governors of the Irish-language school, Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh in west Belfast.

He held a position with Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the council for Irish-language schools, set up under the Good Friday agreement.

Mr Ó Muireagáin, also worked as a freelance journalist, contributing mainly to Irish language daily Lá.

Mr Ciaran O Pronntaigh, editor of west Belfast-based Irish Language newspaper La, for whom Mr O Muireagain was working as a correspondent, said it was encouraging that the Israeli authorities were now admitting his story was standing up.

"We have had no official word but we are being told that the Israelis aresaying they have been sold a pup.

"What we do know is that a colleague is still in prison. It is still a verytrying time. It is good news coming out of Israel if they are admitting publiclythey have someone in custody they should not have.

"We will be pushing to have him released as soon as possible."

The arrested man's mother, Theresa Morgan, 61, said she had also heard reportsthat her son was a victim of mistaken identity.

Calling for his release, Mrs Morgan said she was worried and frustrated thatthe Israeli authorities were still not allowing British consul officials to seeher son.

"The Israeli papers and television are saying it's a case of mistakenidentity. Why aren't they allowing him out unless they are trying to saveface?" she added.

Additional reporting Agencies