'Mooning' son jailed in Africa

Local & National

Family urging authorities to free Queen's student

Monday, August 13, 2007

By Clare Weir

The mother of a Queen's University student jailed for allegedly "mooning " at the home of a Senegalese governor was today desperately trying to persuade authorities in the African country to release her son.

Patrick Devine (19), from Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, is sharing a cell with up to 40 others after he was arrested on July 27 for allegedly dropping his trousers as a dare outside a house belonging to a governor in Saint Louis in Senegal.

And his arrest came at the end of what he described on internet site Bebo as the worst week of his life after he contracted chicken pox and had part of his small toe amputated due to infection.

Mr Devine, who studies engineering, was working with street children in Saint Louis under a programme organised by Teaching and Politics Abroad.

It is believed that he and another TPA member were restrained by a member of the public after the dare and police were called.

Mr Devine's family is well known in the Dunfanaghy area with father Patsy running a local bar.

His mother Noreen, her brother and sister-in-law are understood to be in the former French colony where they have been visiting him in prison two to three times a week at La Maison de La Correction.

A source close to the family said today that while there were hopes he could have been freed last week, he was remanded in custody until the end of the month.

"We understand that there are ongoing negotiations between the defence and the prosecution," said the source.

"We are cautiously optimistic that he might be freed on bail sooner rather than later.

"He was being held in a cell with 40 others with no beds, but he has now been given a mattress.

"The incident happened when he was coming back from a night on the town.

"Whether it was high jinks or a dare, we don't know."

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said yesterday they had an official on the ground who was offering consular assistance.

It is understood the alleged moon came as part of a series of written dares and that a Canadian female student captured it on a digital camera.

She was fined and released after one day, but four days after his arrest, Mr Devine was transferred from police cells to La Maison de la Correcion to await sentencing.

Friends on the social networking site have left messages of support for the teen.

And the director of teaching projects abroad has also spoken about Patrick's ordeal.

Mr Devine will remain in custody until August 29.