[2012] Christopher Renehan, 38, who is seven months into a six-year term at Dubai Central Prison, began refusing food at 5am on Monday.

The father of two children last spoke with his family in Ireland on Tuesday evening.

He's still in good form but that could change over the next day or so," said his father, Michael.

The hunger strike "was his final option as he was getting no joy through the courts", said Mr Renehan. "His wife and children are very upset.

"I'm going to give it until early next week and then I'm going to have to talk him out of it. We don't want anything to happen to him.