Ian Campbell, 54 from Newry, is accused of gulping down the £30,000 gem in a jewellery shop after he initially tried to leave with it clenched in his fist.

But a shop assistant at the shop in the Marmaris District of Mugla Province, Turkey, locked the door to prevent Campbell from leaving.

This prompted the tourist to allegedly swallow his booty.

The jeweller called the police, who took the tourist to Marmaris State Hospital on the orders of a prosecutor, who told doctors to surgically remove the ring if it didn’t exit Campbell “by natural means”.

It is unknown if the ring has yet been returned.