The family of four Irish siblings detained by Egyptian authorities are “hoping and praying” they will return home within days.

A 17-year-old Irish boy caught up in violence in Cairo and detained by the Egyptian authorities might have been “beaten to hell”, his sister has claimed.

An Irish citizen caught up in the violence in Egypt told family here she was being beaten by security forces as she and her three siblings were removed from a mosque where they had taken refuge from fighting in the street.

Four Irish siblings caught up in the violence in Cairo are being held by Egyptian authorities, their family said.