Irish Student jailed in Senegal for 'mooning'

[TheJudge]

As far as I know, he was put in jail about 10 days ago,locked in a cell with many other inmates, has been refused bail and has a trial at the end of this month with the prosecution hoping he will get 6 MONTHS jailtime. Fair enough - he made a stupid mistake but we're talking about a student who went out there as a volunteer teaching English to children. It is disgraceful that there hasn't been more of an outcry about this and a sad reflection on this country. I don't know if anything could be done to help but I do know that more could be tried.

[smiffy]

It is disgraceful that there hasn't been more of an outcry about this and a sad reflection on this country. I don't know if anything could be done to help but I do know that more could be tried.

Like what?

[TheJudge]

It is disgraceful that there hasn't been more of an outcry about this and a sad reflection on this country. I don't know if anything could be done to help but I do know that more could be tried.

Like what?

There must be some manner in which authorities over there could be pressured. Edit - It would help if it attracted more national coverage.

[dubsthcentralboy]

My basic advice would be not to break the laws of other countries. While 'mooning' might be seen as a 'bit of craic' in Ireland, in most countries, it's a criminal offence. I feel sorry for this wretched guy, but, he ought not to misbehave abroad.

[smiffy]

There must be some manner in which authorities over there could be pressured. Edit - It would help if it attracted more national coverage.

You reckon? Frankly, I would have thought the less national coverage the more likely it would be that the Senegalese government might be lenient and amenable to requests for clemency from the Irish authorities. If they were seen to be giving in to a public outcry in a Western state, however, they might be more likely to stand their ground, particularly as, strictly speaking, they're in the right.

[TheJudge]

There must be some manner in which authorities over there could be pressured. Edit - It would help if it attracted more national coverage.

You reckon? Frankly, I would have thought the less national coverage the more likely it would be that the Senegalese government might be lenient and amenable to requests for clemency from the Irish authorities. If they were seen to be giving in to a public outcry in a Western state, however, they might be more likely to stand their ground, particularly as, strictly speaking, they're in the right.

You may be right re: how the Senegalese government would react to more coverage but without more coverage, who's going to do anything? There is bound to be some way of pressuring them though, i have no clue what it is, might be cut off volunteers, economic pressure,etc., it is a real pity that some method isn't be used to get this poor kid home.

[smiffy]

Maybe bomb them; how about that?

[TheJudge]

Maybe bomb them; how about that?

If only GWB was Taoiseach - then we'd damn well get action on this!

[michael1965]

There must be some manner in which authorities over there could be pressured. Edit - It would help if it attracted more national coverage.

You reckon? Frankly, I would have thought the less national coverage the more likely it would be that the Senegalese government might be lenient and amenable to requests for clemency from the Irish authorities. If they were seen to be giving in to a public outcry in a Western state, however, they might be more likely to stand their ground, particularly as, strictly speaking, they're in the right.

True. Another example of the ugly westerner with little respect for local values.

[TheJudge]

There must be some manner in which authorities over there could be pressured. Edit - It would help if it attracted more national coverage.

You reckon? Frankly, I would have thought the less national coverage the more likely it would be that the Senegalese government might be lenient and amenable to requests for clemency from the Irish authorities. If they were seen to be giving in to a public outcry in a Western state, however, they might be more likely to stand their ground, particularly as, strictly speaking, they're in the right.

True. Another example of the ugly westerner with little respect for local values.

What exactly is Senegal an example of then? A civilised,noble country??? A 19 year old volunteers to go over there and spend his summer teaching kids English, he makes a minor mistake, could they not just deport him? Why do they need to throw him in jail, put him in a cell with up to 40 inmates and seek 6 months jailtime for him?