An Irish man who has been branded an illegal immigrant in Australia says he fears for his safety.

26-year-old Bernard Lee from Greystones in Wicklow was arrested by armed police on Monday – after an admin error stated that he was in the country illegally.

He’s fighting for his release but Bernard can be held in the Yongah Hill etention Centre near Perth for up to three months.

Speaking to him on a mobile phone inside the centre – we asked if he was afraid: “Yeah you definitely would, the majority of the people here, don’t speak a word of English.

“You don’t know what’s going on you know?

“When you talk to a case worker in here all they tell you is it is out of my hands I can’t do anything.

“When you talk to border forces in here the guy just says I’m just a middle man I can’t do anything you know and it’s like well what’s the point in talking to you then if you can’t do anything?”