Scots pirate hunter has been failed by American firm

Scots pirate hunter Billy Irving has been in an Indian jail for three months.

The employers of a Scots pirate hunter languishing in an Indian jail have been criticised for failing him and five colleagues.

Billy Irving was detained three months ago while helping to protect merchant shipping vulnerable to ruthless hijackers.

The 33-year-old from Connel, near Oban, was working for American firm AvanFort, when he and the rest of his shipmates aboard the MV Seaman Guard Ohio were arrested.

MP Ian Lavery, who raised the plight of the men during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, believes the US company hasn’t done enough to help their staff.

He said: “I am really concerned about where this is going to end up. On Wednesday the Prime Minister offered to host a meeting of MPs whose constituents are affected. I have written to him indicating I will be taking him up on that offer.

“It is vitally important this situation is given the fullest possible attention. I have spoken to a number of people and I’ve not received a satisfactory explanation.

“The issue is compounded further by a lack of communication from the company who employ the men. It is not the behaviour of people who are concerned about their staff.

“The position of AdvanFort needs to be clarified as soon as possible. We have to keep fighting for these lads, it’s vital their plight is not forgotten about.”

Earlier this month we exclusively revealed the horrific conditions Billy and his colleagues are being subjected to in Puzhal jail in Chennai.

A prison diary written by one of his crewmates told how they’re being held alongside murderers, rapists, with narcotics and sidearms openly circulating.

Serious questions have been asked about the treatment of Billy and his colleagues by the Indian authorities. They were first forced to sign untranslated documents and then transferred to a prison cell, when they had been promised they were being taken for a hospital check-up.

On Wednesday the situation was raised in Prime Minister Questions.

David Cameron assured MPs saying: “I know how important this issue is and I raised it personally with the Indian government ministers when I was in India recently.”

Also among the six former British soldiers behind bars are John Armstrong of Wigton, Ray Tindall from Chester and Nick Dunn of Ashington. Billy Irving’s father, Jim, and his girlfriend, Yvonne McHugh, arrived in Chennai on Saturday morning, before heading immediately to visit him in prison.