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Pirate hunter freed from ‘hellhole’ jail

Pirate hunter freed from ‘hellhole’ jail

THE family of an Argyll pirate hunter was celebrating yesterday after he was released on bail following six months in a “hellhole” Indian jail.

Billy Irving, 33, of Connell, near Oban, walked out of prison to a surprise visit from his partner Yvonne MacHugh, who whisked him off to a hotel in a limo. His bail conditions dictate that he must remain in India.

With legal moves to quash the charges he and his shipmates face due to start within days, his family hope that he will soon be accompanying Miss MacHugh back home.

The former paratrooper and his 35 shipmates have spent months in “inhumane” prison conditions after being detained in October on board the anti-piracy vessel the Seaman Guard Ohio, operated by US marine security firm AdvanFort. They were held on charges of illegally entering Indian waters, possessing arms and ammunition and illegally procuring diesel. All charges are denied by AdvanFort.

Yesterday, Mr Irving’s father, Jim, formerly a policeman in Appin, said: “I’m delighted he’s out of that hellhole and living in a civilised place.

“Billy’s girlfriend Yvonne has been a star. She has pushed and pushed for this. He didn’t know she was going out so it was a total surprise to him.

“She went out on her own and he got his bail and got out and there she was. It would have been nice to see his face. She’d hired a limo for him, so that was a nice way for him to come back to reality.”

He contacted the couple on Saturday and said his son was doing “remarkably well” despite the hardship and illness he endured in prison where the men were held four to a 10ft by 14ft cell.

Speaking from his home in Vouleme, Poitou-Charentes, France, he told the Press and Journal: “He had a big smile on his face and so did Yvonne. I’m absolutely delighted for the two of them. He was saying it is absolutely surreal for him.

“One minute he’s sitting in a cell and the next he’s in a car with Yvonne heading to a hotel. The application for the quash is hopefully going in next week so hopefully the judge will realise it’s a lot of rubbish and throw it out and they can go home.

“At the moment my son’s out of prison. Should we get the charges quashed he’ll be over here for a massive party. All the families are absolutely delighted. There have been two people kept in, the captain of the ship and one of the British men. It’s a shame for their families and we will all continue pushing for them as best we can.”

The majority of the men were bailed on Saturday after a long battle by the families of the detainees, including Miss MacHugh starting a petition which gathered 147,000 signatures calling for the men’s release which was handed to Downing Street.

The Ukrainian-born Captain Dudinik Valentyn and security guard manager Paul Towers, from Pocklington, East Yorkshire, were refused bail due to their senior status.

The others are required to stay in India as part of their bail conditions while they continue to fight to get the charges against them dropped and are also required to visit a police station twice a day.

The International Organisation of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MMP) has said the crewmen and guards were being subjected to “inhumane” conditions in prison. Spokesman Captain James Staples said they were “deprived of proper medical treatment, bathing facilities and adequate food”.

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