Smile of freedom after Chennai Six leave ‘hell hole’ jail
THE fiancée of a Scottish veteran held in a ‘hell hole’ Indian jail for more than four years said she was ‘on cloud nine’ yesterday as he was released.
Billy Irving’s partner Yvonne MacHugh said: ‘I’m just desperate for him to get on that plane. As long as he’s home for Christmas... any sooner, that would be wonderful.’
Former paratrooper Mr Irving is one of the ‘Chennai Six’, a group of former servicemen arrested by the Indian Coast Guard in October 2013. He beamed for the cameras yesterday as he walked free.
The men were working as antipirate security staff on the MV Seaman Guard Ohio when authorities detained them for bringing weapons into India’s territorial waters. They were sentenced to five years in jail and then became trapped in India’s bureaucratic appeals system.
While they were held at the Puzhal Prison in Chennai, formerly Madras, Miss MacHugh, 29, gave birth to Mr Irving’s son William, now aged four. Yesterday Mr Irving, 37, of Connel, Argyll, walked out of the jail with the rest of the group and British consular officials.
It is understood they will remain in the country for several days while their exit visas are sorted out, before being reunited with their families back in Britain.
Another 17 foreign men, who were also arrested in October 2013 accused of importing guns to terrorists, were freed an hour later.
Last night, Miss MacHugh said: ‘I don’t want to hang up the phone every time he calls, I’m on cloud nine. It’s so good to see his face so happy, his eyes have changed, he’s just so happy.’
Mr Irving’s brother Jamie, speaking from his home on Barra in the Outer Hebrides, said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been a long time coming, though. I won’t believe it until Billy is back in Scotland. It has all been very overwhelming for everyone, especially Yvonne.’
On Monday, the High Court acquitted the ship’s crew after a judge ruled the prosecution had not proved their case. Officials found 35 guns, including semiautomatic weapons and 6,000 rounds of ammunition, on board the MV Seaman Guard Ohio.
The men argued that the weapons were lawfully held and their paperwork, issued by the UK Government, was in order.
Justice Basheer Ahamed ordered that the men be released, their passports returned and their 1,000 rupee (£10) court fines should reimbursed. He said: ‘The prosecution has failed to prove that the disputed ship was engaged in any of the activities prejudicial to peace, good order or security of the state.’
Following the men’s release, Miss MacHugh said: ‘They will just go to a hotel in Chennai and will be able to sleep in a bed and have a proper shower for the first time in about two years.
‘Billy called straight away, he couldn’t quite believe it had happened. He’s just over the moon and didn’t think they would be released. We are hoping they could be home in two weeks.’