Yvonne plans ‘wedding of the year’

‘FORGET Harry and Meghan, we will have wedding of the year,’ said Yvonne MacHugh, fiancee of Billy Irving, writes David McPhee.

She was speaking after Connel man Billy touched down in Glasgow Airport last Wednesday following his release from prison in India.

And Billy this week singled out for praise the countless people in Argyll and Kintyre who supported the campaign to win his freedom.

He said: ‘There are far too many people to thank or list individually but I would like to thank everyone in Campbeltown and Oban for the fundraisers and continuous support from day one.’

Billy also fired a broadside at the British Government and Foreign Office for being a ‘joke’.

He added: ‘I served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, putting my life on the line. I don’t ever regret it and was proud to do so. But I feel disgusted and betrayed that my government doesn’t fight for its citizens in the face of injustice and breaches of basic human rights.

‘The British people have been fantastic, sending us letters of support and food parcels.

‘But the government let us down badly – I can never forgive them.

‘The Foreign Office were a joke. On their first visit to the prison, the FO staff member gave us an information pack on prisoners abroad, then left.’

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Billy said the condition of the prison was ‘rancid’.

The 37-year-old said this week: ‘I have had the most wonderful few days at home spending quality time with William and Yvonne catching up and seeing what a incredible funny and bright wee man I have.

‘I believe I wouldn’t be home today if it wasn’t for all the incredible support and help you have all given me and I can’t put into words how much I want to thank you all. Hopefully, now I can rebuild my life, make up for all the lost time with Yvonne and William, and I’ll see you all at our wedding very soon.’

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: ‘The Foreign Office worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reunite these men with their families. This included lobbying on their behalf, visiting them in prison, updating their families and maintaining close contact with their legal team.’