SIX former British soldiers who have been released from an Indian prison four years after they were charged with weapons offences could be home within two weeks.
The so-called Chennai Six, who had been guards on a ship to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean, won an appeal against their convictions on Monday.
They were jailed in October 2013 after being charged with smuggling weapons and ammunition.
Yvonne MacHugh, partner of Billy Irving from Argyll and Bute, said he was “over the moon”.
“They were released about two hours ago and are now at the British Embassy with consular staff,” she said.
“They will just go to a hotel in Chennai and will be able to sleep in a bed and have a proper shower for the first time in about two years.”
Irving, 37, was jailed alongside Nick Dunn, 31 from Northumberland, John Armstrong, 30, of Wigton, Cumbria, Nicholas Simpson, 47, of Catterick, North Yorkshire, Ray Tindall, 42, of Chester, and Paul Towers, 54, of Pocklington, East Yorkshire.
Once Irving was freed, he was able to speak to MacHugh on the embassy’s phone.
She said: “Billy called straight away, he couldn’t quite believe it had happened.
“He’s just over the moon and didn’t think they would be released. He took everything that was said with a pinch of salt and didn’t believe it.
“We are hoping they could be home in two weeks. If it’s less than that it will be a miracle.”
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