Garry Mann, a former firefighter from Kent, voluntarily extradited himself to Portugal last Wednesday, May 12, to serve a two year prison term for his part in riots that took place in Albufeira during the European Championships in 2004.
The father of six gave a brief statement before leaving from Heathrow Airport, Terminal 1: “What I would like to do is finally say that the Labour Government and Crown Prosecution Service have betrayed me. It is time for this new British government to support its own British citizens when there is obvious injustice taking place.”
He added: “What started off as for terrorists can now be used for anyone on holiday and British supporters abroad and something needs to be done about it.”
Jago Russell, chief executive of Fair Trials International, accompanied Garry Mann to the airport on May 12 and said: “Garry has been torn from his home and family in the UK and he will spend two years in prison. This is a tragic result. Above all he is a victim of British judges who said they were powerless to stop an injustice even when it was staring them in the face.”
A spokesman for Fair Trials International told the Algarve Resident this week: “Garry Mann is being held in a prison in Lisbon and we are currently working to get him out of jail as quickly as possible or transferred to the UK.” D.S.
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