July the 9th, 2026 – The family of a young Irish tourist detained in Croatia is alleging that he has been denied insulin for his Type 1 diabetes.
Index reports that the family of a 22-year-old Irish man being held in custody in Croatia has appealed for his immediate transfer to hospital, alleging he has been denied adequate medical treatment despite living with Type 1 diabetes.
Rory Byrne, from County Waterford, travelled to Croatia with friends before becoming involved in an altercation with another group. Following police intervention, Byrne and one of his friends were promptly arrested. While his friend was later released, Byrne remains in custody. Irish media have not identified the Croatian city where the incident occurred.
Family claims that he has been without proper insulin treatment
Byrne’s mother, Niamh, claims her son was denied access to insulin from the moment he entered police custody, despite friends bringing his medication to the police station over several days. Although she says he has since received some insulin, the family insists his ongoing medical care remains inadequate. His father travelled to Croatia on Tuesday and was permitted a supervised 10-minute prison visit through a plexiglass screen. According to the family, Byrne told him he wasn’t receiving appropriate medical treatment and urgently needed to be transferred to hospital.
Allegations of injuries and lack of consular access
The family also alleges Byrne sustained physical injuries while in custody. His mother claims he was briefly taken to hospital before being returned to prison, describing the visit as little more than a formality. They further dispute claims by Croatian authorities that Byrne declined assistance from the Irish Embassy. The family fears he has been prevented from speaking with Irish consular officials and believes this may be linked to concerns over injuries they say he sustained while detained. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Irish politicians call for urgent intervention
The case has prompted intervention from Irish politician Conor McGuinness, who has urged Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure Byrne receives immediate medical care and unrestricted access to Irish consular officials. Speaking in the Irish parliament, McGuinness described Byrne’s condition as “very, very unwell” and said every effort must be made to protect his rights and secure appropriate medical treatment, including a transfer to hospital if necessary.
Croatian authorities are yet to respond
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the family.
Meanwhile, Byrne’s mother said the family continues to face significant obstacles in obtaining information about his condition, describing the situation as increasingly distressing with every passing hour. Index has contacted Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior for comment. At the time of publication, no response had been received.
