Reverend George Exoo has been physically assaulted by other prisoners because he is homosexual and asked to be moved into protective custody last week, his partner Thomas McGurrin told the Sunday Tribune.

"He's very upset. They hit him and threw paperback books at him. I go and see him three times a week. It's a totally different world inside jail.

Because he's in protective custody, he's only allowed out of his cell for one hour each day. It's a very tough prison. A lot of the prisoners would be young guys on dope charges; they will not tolerate homosexuals."

McGurrin claimed that Exoo (64) may consider taking his own life if his extradition to Ireland goes ahead as planned in the coming months.

Exoo has been held for four weeks at the Southern Regional Jail in West Virginia for assisting 49-year-old Dublin woman Rosemary Toole Gilhooley in a planned suicide five years ago. He came to Ireland with McGurrin in 2002 after Toole Gilhooley contacted him through his organisation, the Compassionate Chaplaincy Foundation, looking for help in ending her life.

Toole Gilhooley was suffering from Cushing's syndrome, which can be fatal, and not depression alone, according to Exoo. The former Unitarian minister said he held her hand and prayed while she committed suicide in an apartment in Donnybrook in south Dublin.

Assisted suicide is illegal in this country and carries a prison term of up to 14 years.

McGurrin expressed surprise that he too was not arrested with his partner as he was also present when Toole Gilhooley died.

"The FBI called to the door.

We had no idea they were coming. One of the officers said to me, 'We're just sorry we can't arrest you too, ' before taking George away."

Exoo had been working with several people who planned to end their own lives at the time of his arrest. All these cases have now been suspended.

"He had me write letters to a bunch of people he was assisting with suicide telling them he's in jail and their cases are on hold, " McGurrin added.

Exoo's public defence lawyer is attempting to get another date for a bail bond hearing, which was previously denied.

"The judge already said he does not think George is a flight risk so there is no reason why he should not get bail. We are hopeful, " said McGurrin.

Exoo's lawyer believes his client's chances of escaping extradition are 50/50.

"We really just don't know but the lawyer is very experienced and good, " said McGurrin. "George has been going to the law library in prison whenever he can too."

McGurrin said Exoo was also fearful of the conditions he may face in Irish prisons.

"He's heard they are old and unheated with no running water. He definitely will fight this all the way. He didn't have an opportunity to take his own life before he was arrested but won't rule it out. He stands over what he did. Our church approves of assisted suicide when people are terminally ill."

Exoo is due in court again on 17 August in relation to the criminal charge. He is accused of accepting $2,500 ( 1,845) from Toole Gilhooley to travel to Ireland and assist with her suicide. Exoo could become the first person to be extradited from the US on an assisted suicide charge. No one in Ireland has ever been charged with this crime.