Scot jailed in India for five years over firearms offences to appeal

Billy Irving, from Argyll, is one of 35 sailors and guards who were arrested on the MV Seaman Guard Ohio – an anti-piracy ship – on 12 October 2013.

They were fined 3,000 rupees (£30) and jailed for five years.

Yvonne MacHugh, Mr Irving’s partner, said all six UK nationals would appeal, adding: “After two long years of fighting to get my partner Billy home I’m devastated with today’s verdict. For the next five years our son won’t have a father at home.

“Billy has passed on to me all of the evidence that we couldn’t mention while the trial was going on.

“I intend to release this to the media so that the public can see that the boys did nothing wrong, that everything was legal and that this has been a miscarriage of justice.”

However, Indian authorities said the 35 weapons and nearly 6,000 rounds of ammunition found aboard the ship had not been declared after the vessel strayed into Indian waters without permission.

The men were carrying out work for AdvanFort, providing anti-piracy assistance in the Indian Ocean when they were apprehended.

Charges against the men were initially dropped but prosecutors successfully appealed. Ms MacHugh said all six British nationals would now appeal.

“They are filing a petition against it but that won’t happen until the 16th of January,” she said.

“I hope to at least get them out on bail then figure out what to do next, but really this isn’t a legal matter – this is a political matter.

“The government really has to get involved now because this is a miscarriage of justice.”

She created a petition online which stated the men had been “wrongly arrested and imprisoned by Indian authorities while working to protect ships from pirate attacks”.

The men deny any wrongdoing and said they have been abandoned by their American employers who have failed to pay them since November 2013.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said they could make their appeal within 90 days.

A spokesman said: “Our staff in India and the UK have been in close contact with all six men since their arrest to provide support to them and their families, including attending court.

“Ministers have also raised this case at the highest levels, pressing for delays to be resolved.

“We recognise what a difficult time this is for those involved. There is now a 90-day window to appeal and we will continue to provide consular assistance.

“However, we cannot interfere in another country’s judicial process.”