THE father of an Irish man arrested in Iraq after fighting Islamic State has told how his son had originally gone to the Middle East to help with the humanitarian crisis.
Declan Molloy has described the family's concerns for their son Joshua's safety after he was detained crossing into Iraq last Friday.
The 24-year-old from Ballylinan, Co Laois - a former British Army soldier - was detained after a period fighting with Kurdish forces opposing IS in Iraq.
He was arrested along with two British men, Joe Akerman and Jac Holmes, after allegedly crossing from Syria to Iraq illegally.
Mr Molloy said his son had originally travelled to the Middle East to take on a humanitarian role.
"It's just ironic that these young men have gone over there, particularly to Syria, in order to help where they can and then they're being held by the same people or those allied to them," he told RTÉ's Liveline.
"It's a difficult situation, Joshua went over there in March of last year and initially Joshua seen it as a humanitarian crisis more than anything else, given the treatment of minorities over there - that's one of the reasons why he went."
Mr Molloy added: "His intention was to go over there and help in any way he can, as he said he saw it as a humanitarian crisis.
"The fact that he picked up a weapon eventually was just something that happened along the way that occurred.
"But he would have equally been as happy for the Red Cross of the Red Crescent or something of that nature.
"In fact he did learn English, a teaching English course, with a possibility of doing that when he got there.
"But he got involved and as a young man of military training that presumably helped to form his decision."
Mr Molloy said his son had joined the British Army, aged 19, where he spent four years. However, he left last year due to the lack to military action.
He said his son was "very well informed of what the situation was out there" before travelling to Syria.
"He saw ISIS as being a severe and deadly problem for the people of northern Syria and many people in the Middle East would see them as being a problem," he added.
"I think its very courageous, I always thought it was a very brave thing to do, but obviously very worrying for his family."
Mr Molloy added: "Initially when he went over, it wasn't a forgone conclusion he would be a part of the military operation over there.
"He always wanted some adventure, he was always curious to do something, go somewhere."
The Department of Foreign affairs in Dublin said it was aware of the case and was “working actively with partners on the ground to resolve it”.
The department has no presence in Iraq and its diplomatic staff in Saudi Arabia cover the region.
Because Mr Molloy was arrested with two Britons, the British foreign office was expected to take the lead on the case. This will include pressing for the men to be released by the authorities in Iraq.
