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| Piracy row Scot Billy Irving 'struggling' in India | Piracy row Scot Billy Irving 'struggling' in India |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A Scot trapped in India by a dispute over anti-piracy operations has said he is struggling to support himself. | |
| Speaking to BBC Alba's An La programme, Billy Irving said the UK authorities had provided little practical support. | |
| Charges against him were dropped but Mr Irving, from Connel, Argyll, was unable to leave India after it emerged the authorities may pursue other charges. | |
| The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it could provide advice but not financial assistance. | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it could provide advice but not financial assistance. |
| Mr Irving was arrested along with the rest of the crew of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio on 12 October 2013. | |
| The Indian authorities accused them of illegally possessing weapons. | The Indian authorities accused them of illegally possessing weapons. |
| Their vessel, a private US-owned ship, was assisting with anti-piracy protection when it strayed into Indian waters. | |
| Five other British nationals were on the ship: | Five other British nationals were on the ship: |
| Charges against them were dropped in July. | Charges against them were dropped in July. |
| Taking part in his first broadcast interview, Mr Irving told BBC Alba: "As far as I know, we were allowed to go home. | Taking part in his first broadcast interview, Mr Irving told BBC Alba: "As far as I know, we were allowed to go home. |
| "All we had to do was get our passports, belongings, and a No Objection Certificate that we're allowed to leave the country with no further charges." | "All we had to do was get our passports, belongings, and a No Objection Certificate that we're allowed to leave the country with no further charges." |
| Mr Irving and the other members of the crew raised an action in the courts to ensure they had the relevant paperwork but then discovered that they may face further charges. | Mr Irving and the other members of the crew raised an action in the courts to ensure they had the relevant paperwork but then discovered that they may face further charges. |
| "By the time we've got a hearing for it in the High Court an application had been put in (for a criminal prosecution). | "By the time we've got a hearing for it in the High Court an application had been put in (for a criminal prosecution). |
| "I'm assuming the process will be put on stay until the Supreme Court now has to have a judgement on the High Court's decision." | "I'm assuming the process will be put on stay until the Supreme Court now has to have a judgement on the High Court's decision." |
| Mr Irving said he and his colleagues had been left in limbo, unable to go home and unable to support themselves in India. | Mr Irving said he and his colleagues had been left in limbo, unable to go home and unable to support themselves in India. |
| The crew said they have not been paid by their employers AdvanFort since their arrest. | |
| Welfare | Welfare |
| Mr Irving praised the FCO for ensuring mail and parcels got to them in prison but claimed it had done little since. | Mr Irving praised the FCO for ensuring mail and parcels got to them in prison but claimed it had done little since. |
| He said: "Apart from that the FCO have basically done nothing to help us. | He said: "Apart from that the FCO have basically done nothing to help us. |
| "They can't get involved in the legal system, which we understand, but on the welfare side they've not helped us at all. | "They can't get involved in the legal system, which we understand, but on the welfare side they've not helped us at all. |
| "I have emails from them saying they will not help us when we have no accommodation, no food, no money to get ourselves stuff. | "I have emails from them saying they will not help us when we have no accommodation, no food, no money to get ourselves stuff. |
| "They say it's the responsibility of my friends and family back home to support me." | "They say it's the responsibility of my friends and family back home to support me." |
| The FCO has confirmed that it is limited in the help it can provide. | The FCO has confirmed that it is limited in the help it can provide. |
| A spokesman said: "We are aware of recent developments in the case of the six British nationals in India and await the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing. | A spokesman said: "We are aware of recent developments in the case of the six British nationals in India and await the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing. |
| "We continue to provide consular assistance to the men and raise their case at the highest levels within the Indian government, which we will continue to do as appropriate." | "We continue to provide consular assistance to the men and raise their case at the highest levels within the Indian government, which we will continue to do as appropriate." |
| He added: "We do not provide financial assistance to British nationals overseas. | He added: "We do not provide financial assistance to British nationals overseas. |
| "We can liaise with their family and friends to see if they can provide them with financial assistance." | "We can liaise with their family and friends to see if they can provide them with financial assistance." |
| The interview with Billy Irving will be broadcast on Reporting Scotland at 18:30 on BBC 1 Scotland and An La on BBC Alba at 19:00 on Friday 24 October. |
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