Bernard Phelan told his sister from his Iranian jail cell 'he was going to do a Bobby Sands'

While the Irish travel consultant languishes in the notorious Vakilabad Prison, his family fears for his life, writes Neil Michael

Travel consultant Bernard Phelan, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who is currently in an Iranian jail. Pictures: Courtesy of his sister Caroline Massé Phelan

Before Bernard Phelan goes to sleep at night, he takes note of the number of flip flops belonging to fellow inmates lined up in the wing of the Iranian prison where he is held

There are rows of them outside cell doors, about 10m away from his cell and, according to his sister Caroline, he remembers their position.