Jailed pirate hunter Billy Irving has rejected the chance to swap the “horrendous” conditions he is currently experiencing in an Indian prison for a more comfortable life in a Scottish alternative.
The ex-paratrooper from Connel near Oban in Argyll is living in 43C heat with only a hole in the cell floor as a toilet and basic food rations. He has to pay for clean drinking water at Puzhal Prison, near Chennai.
But to stand a chance of serving his time in Scotland, he would have had to say that he was guilty of the charges he is currently held on – and this is something he cannot bring himself to do.
Mr Irving, 37, is serving five years alongside five colleagues after being found guilty in January of carrying illegal weapons while working as security guards on ships to combat the threat of pirates in the Indian Ocean.
An appeal hearing is due to take place at the high court in Madras tomorrow, but his fiancee Yvonne MacHugh is not hopeful of any progress.
She said yesterday: “I don’t think anything is going to happen. The lawyers were having a meeting today to finalize who is going to be representing him.
“They haven’t been able to see Billy yet.
“It is frustrating – everything is just so slow.”
Mr Irving has only seen their one year old son once since he was born.
The couple’s only method of communication is by letter.
Miss MacHugh said: “No communication is the most mentally and emotionally hard thing for him.
“He wanted to go for a prisoner transfer and put in an application but at the last minute he decided there was no way he could admit he was guilty of a crime he didn’t commit.
“There was a chance he might have been able to transfer over to a Scottish prison if he stated that he was guilty of the charges.
“The main reason for doing this was so that he could see William. But we thought that for the rest of our lives we would be asking ourselves why we didn’t just hang in for another few year and fight for justice.
“He asked me if I was OK with it and I told him I will back him whatever he decides to do. I will fight for him whatever way I can.”
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “Our staff in India and the UK remain in regular contact with all six men and are continuing to support them and their families, working to make sure their welfare is protected in prison.
“We recognise what a difficult time this is for those involved. We cannot interfere with India’s independent legal system, just as other countries cannot interfere with ours, but we will continue efforts to make sure this case is resolved swiftly. Ministers will continue to raise this case at the highest levels.”
