Irish man arrested in Portugal found dead in prison cell

The pair are understood to have travelled to the coastal city in Portugal's southern Algarve region earlier this week. File picture: AP Photo/Armando Franca

An Irish man arrested in Portugal on Tuesday has been found dead in his prison cell.

The 29-year-old was arrested and detained in Albufeira on Tuesday following an alleged assault on his partner.

The National Guard in Albufeira said that the woman, also aged 29, was attacked with a knife.

The woman reportedly remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The pair are understood to have travelled to the coastal city in Portugal's southern Algarve region earlier this week. 

The police said that the man was being held in Albufeira and was found dead inside his cell on Wednesday. Emergency services were called immediately but he was declared dead at the scene.

The circumstances of the death inside the cell are being investigated by the Polícia Judiciária.

A spokesperson said the Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. 

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the detail of individual cases," the spokesperson said.