Celebrities join campaign to free Billy from jail in India
THE campaign to have Connel man Billy Irving freed from prison in India has won celebrity backing from a Coronation Street star.
Actor Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald in the hit soap, has posted a video on the Bring Billy Back Facebook page to show his backing for the campaign to release ex-paratrooper Billy.
Billy was arrested in 2013 along with five other British ex-servicemen. The Chennai Six, as they are being called, were armed guards protecting shipping from Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian authorities accused the crew of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio of straying into Indian waters with unlicensed arms and ammunition. The crew of the vessel were sentenced to five years in January 2016.
In his video intervention, the Coronation Street actor says: ‘Hi, Simon Gregson here just giving a little message to say I’m showing my support for the Chennai Six.
‘Check it out on Google – Chennai6 – about the lads over there. Awful for them ... awful ... and awful for their families.
‘I hope it all gets sorted out ASAP so take a look and show support.’
And there was also support in the past week from cast members of Emmerdale.
Actor John Bowe posted a photograph showing Emmerdale stars with a Union Jack flag with the words FREE THE #chennai6 and a message saying: ‘We thought India was friendly. @BorisJohnson @theresa_may Please bring these innocent men home.’
Billy’s fiancèe, Yvonne MacHugh, has fought a dogged campaign to have Billy freed, while also trying to mitigate the hardships he faces in jail.
In a post on the same Facebook page this week, Yvonne says: ‘There has been a few people asking about parcels for Billy.
‘He’s gave me a list of things he’s needing if anyone wants to send stuff, think parcels are running low again.
‘So NO toiletries needed (he has that in abundance) cooking powders (like fajita powders, those maggi cook bag things, anything that’ll give flavour) soya mince, haribo, breakfast/protein/ oatmeal bars, tuna in packets not tins etc anything edible and tasty and if anyone can bake fruit loafs and fancies sending that over he’ll be more than grateful ... just no toiletries.’
Parcels can be sent to: Central Prison 1 Puzhal, c/o Superintendent’s office, William Irving 6150, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600066, India.
And messages on the same Facebook page show that support for Billy also came from trad band Skippinish, who played a gig in Glasgow last week.
Linda Savage Dignan wrote: ‘Angus [MacPhail] and the guys in Skipinnish did a lovely tribute to Billy at the Barrowland on Saturday, they’re not forgotten.’
Support across the country has been growing, with an online petition now signed by more than 405,000 people. The petition – which will be delivered next month to Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn – tells of the shock felt by the men’s families when they were jailed and urges action from the British government.
It reads: ‘The devastation and anguish this has caused us, the families, is huge. It has left us crushed and with little hope. We know have no communication with the men and we don’t know who or where to turn to.
‘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, then 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.’
To sign the petition, go to https://www.change.org/p/british-foreign-secretary-free-the-6british-veterans-from-indian-jail