East Renfrewshire MP steps up campaign to free constituent from Indian prison

East Renfrewshire SNP MP Kirsten Oswald says it must be the last Christmas Billy Irving spends in the jail.

Published 23rd Dec 2016

A Scottish MP is calling on authorities to free a constituent who has spent the last five years in an Indian prison.

East Renfrewshire SNP MP Kirsten Oswald says it must be the last Christmas Billy Irving spends in the jail.

Mr Irving, from Connel, Argyll and Bute, is one of the Chennai six'' who have been detained for five years on firearms charges after their anti-piracy ship strayed into Indian waters without permission.

Customs officials boarded their ship and found 35 guns, including semi-automatic weapons, and almost 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

Charges against the men, who were working for US firm AdvanFort, have since been dropped but they have been unable to leave while prosecutors pursued an appeal.

Ms Oswald said: This must be the last Christmas Billy and his colleagues spend in jail.

Things have moved at a glacial pace in India and it is important that the pressure is kept up on both the Foreign Office and Number 10 to ensure this subject is at the front of the UK Government's mind.

Billy and his colleagues have protested their innocence from the very start and I think the Foreign Secretary can and should be doing far more to assist them as UK citizens.

I know this is going to be a difficult time for Billy's entire family and his friends. His partner Yvonne (MacHugh) and his family have worked tirelessly since the men were first taken into custody.

No-one could have done more than they have and I applaud each and every one of them for the dedication they have shown.''