An Irish football fan detained by Bulgarian police after they failed to recognise his passport photo has been released.
Shamrock Rovers fan Daniel Fulham, 28, was in Bulgaria with a group of fans to watch his favourite side play in a Champions League game in the city of Razgrad.
As the group of 20 fans made their return over the border on board a bus, they were stopped by border control – and Daniel’s passport was checked.
Read more: Shamrock Rovers fan held in Bulgaria over alleged 'fake passport'
The shocked IT engineer, from Tallaght, West Dublin, was subsequently detained after police didn’t believe he was the man in the photograph and placed him in custody overnight.
Early yesterday Daniel’s mother Noeleen made an emotional appeal for the Department of Foreign Affairs to intervene.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror as the story began to unfold Noeleen told how she got to have a brief phone call with her terrified son before he was detained.
She said: “I was on the phone to him for about two minutes. He told me ‘Mam, I’m terrified.’
“I don’t understand how this could happen to him. He’s the nicest person and a prime example to young people. He never gets in trouble for anything.
“He’s a die-hard Rovers fan and he travels around with them non-stop.”
Noeleen said she made efforts through the Passport Office in Dublin, which in turn tried to assure the authorities in Bulgaria that his document was legitimate.
She said: “I don’t know what their issue was. They just said it’s not the same person in the photograph. The passport office confirmed his details but they wouldn’t release him.”
Noeleen had also expressed fear for Daniel’s health and safety while he was in custody.
She added: “He had two major operations in the past. He was in ICU twice and his organs had collapsed so I’m very worried for his health and his mental health over there.”
“Daniel is a squeaky clean young man and he doesn’t smoke, barely drinks and doesn’t do drugs. He is not the type to get into trouble.”
Then yesterday, as news of Daniel’s plight started to go viral, Shamrock Rovers issued a statement pledging their support.
Following that tweet the Department of Foreign Affairs, which had earlier stated it was providing the family with consular assistance, confirmed that it had managed to help get Daniel freed.
By yesterday afternoon Daniel was able to tweet the news telling everyone that he would hopefully be home later that night.
He posted: “Really appreciate all the concern and incredible work from everyone involved to help me get home. I should be on a flight home tonight.”
Shamrock Rovers also released a statement welcoming the move and saying it would be paying for Daniel’s trip home.
And speaking to this paper last night, his mum Noeleen said she was “incredibly relieved” that her son was freed.
She added: “The support and love from everyone was amazing.
“He is very tired, shaken, but in great form now and very lucky to be on his way.
“I hope measures will be put in place now that no one will be treated like a criminal again.”
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