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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Holocaust denier back in Britain | Holocaust denier back in Britain |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| British historian and Holocaust denier David Irving has returned to the UK after being expelled from Austria. | British historian and Holocaust denier David Irving has returned to the UK after being expelled from Austria. |
| Mr Irving was unrepentant as he arrived back in at Heathrow airport saying he had "no need any longer to show remorse" for his views. | Mr Irving was unrepentant as he arrived back in at Heathrow airport saying he had "no need any longer to show remorse" for his views. |
| Earlier this week, he was released on probation from a three-year sentence imposed in Austria for a speech in 1989 in which he denied the Holocaust. | Earlier this week, he was released on probation from a three-year sentence imposed in Austria for a speech in 1989 in which he denied the Holocaust. |
| He served 13 months of the sentence and has now been banned from Austria. | He served 13 months of the sentence and has now been banned from Austria. |
| The 68-year-old said he would urge an academic boycott of historians from Germany and Austria until the nations stopped jailing historians. | The 68-year-old said he would urge an academic boycott of historians from Germany and Austria until the nations stopped jailing historians. |
| Mr Irving's case sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. | Mr Irving's case sparked international debate about the limits of freedom of speech. |
| In his speech in Austria 17 years ago, he denied the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". | In his speech in Austria 17 years ago, he denied the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, though he later said he was "mistaken". |
| On Wednesday, he was unexpectedly released and welcomed the decision saying he was "fit and well". | On Wednesday, he was unexpectedly released and welcomed the decision saying he was "fit and well". |
| Although Austrian authorities have permanently banned him from Austria, he told Agence France Presse: "I have no interest in coming back." | Although Austrian authorities have permanently banned him from Austria, he told Agence France Presse: "I have no interest in coming back." |
| Intense debate | Intense debate |
| On arriving back in the UK, Mr Irving hit out at what he described as a "secret society of judges" in this country who are still determined to destroy him. | On arriving back in the UK, Mr Irving hit out at what he described as a "secret society of judges" in this country who are still determined to destroy him. |
| "They haven't succeeded," he said. "My enemies are deeply shocked that I'm out. They thought I would die in prison." | "They haven't succeeded," he said. "My enemies are deeply shocked that I'm out. They thought I would die in prison." |
| He said the case had cost him and his partner, Bente Hogh, their London home. | He said the case had cost him and his partner, Bente Hogh, their London home. |
| The BBC's Kerry Skyring in Vienna said the presiding judge converted the remaining two years of Mr Irving's jail term to a provisional sentence, upholding his appeal. | The BBC's Kerry Skyring in Vienna said the presiding judge converted the remaining two years of Mr Irving's jail term to a provisional sentence, upholding his appeal. |
| Irving's reputation as a credible historian is shot Karen PollockHolocaust Educational Trust Reactions to Irving release | Irving's reputation as a credible historian is shot Karen PollockHolocaust Educational Trust Reactions to Irving release |
| Both the prosecution and defence had challenged the length of the sentence. The crime carries a prison term of up to 10 years. | Both the prosecution and defence had challenged the length of the sentence. The crime carries a prison term of up to 10 years. |
| The 1992 law targets "whoever denies, grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide". | |
| Mr Irving's release on probation has dismayed Jewish groups. | Mr Irving's release on probation has dismayed Jewish groups. |
| Lord Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, said: "I am sorry that he did not serve out his full term." | Lord Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, said: "I am sorry that he did not serve out his full term." |
| COUNTRIES WITH LAWS AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIAL AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicFranceGermanyIsraelLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSwitzerland Timeline: David Irving Denying the Holocaust | |
| Asked about Mr Irving's comments about historians being put in prison, Lord Janner said: "I do not believe that he was put in prison because he was a historian. And historians should be treated in the same way as anyone else." | Asked about Mr Irving's comments about historians being put in prison, Lord Janner said: "I do not believe that he was put in prison because he was a historian. And historians should be treated in the same way as anyone else." |
| Mr Irving was arrested in November last year on a motorway in southern Austria. He was visiting to give a lecture to a far-right student fraternity. | Mr Irving was arrested in November last year on a motorway in southern Austria. He was visiting to give a lecture to a far-right student fraternity. |
| The conviction had sparked intense debate, with supporters saying it was fully justified but opponents arguing it undermined the right of freedom of speech. | The conviction had sparked intense debate, with supporters saying it was fully justified but opponents arguing it undermined the right of freedom of speech. |
| At the initial trial, Mr Irving had said it was "ridiculous" he was being tried for expressing an opinion and that he had changed his views on the Holocaust. | At the initial trial, Mr Irving had said it was "ridiculous" he was being tried for expressing an opinion and that he had changed his views on the Holocaust. |
| He says he accepts the existence of death camps, but claims Auschwitz's role as a "killing centre" has been exaggerated to pander to the tourist trade. | He says he accepts the existence of death camps, but claims Auschwitz's role as a "killing centre" has been exaggerated to pander to the tourist trade. |