Families take fight to Downing Street

FAMILY members of an Argyll man detained in India have delivered a petition to the Prime Minister in Downing Street.

Billy Irving was arrested along with five colleagues and the petition, Free the six British ex soliders from Indian jail #FREESG06, with more than 375,000 signatories, was handed over to mark 1,000 days since the men were locked up.

Handing over the petition, Mr Irving’s partner, Yvonne MacHugh, said: ‘We understand fully that one country cannot intervene in another’s judicial process. But when innocent men are being prosecuted for a crime they have not committed, they should have an obligation to protect the human rights and freedom of these men and have them released and brought home.

‘These men devoted their lives protecting others. They fought for the British government, now the British government must fight for them.’

MP Hugo Swire, Foreign Office minister, pledged again last week that he is doing everything he can to ‘secure the men’s freedom’.

Photograph courtesy of Yvonne MacHugh. Yvonne MacHugh, in white dress, with family members and MP Brendan O’Hara, far right, as they deliver the petition to the Prime Minister in Downing Street.