The brother of a Scottish sailor jailed in Bahrain fears he will be left mentally scarred and is pleading for help to secure a royal pardon.
Owen Haggerty, from Renfrewshire, has been sentenced to three months in prison after being convicted of assault. His family say he was attempting to break up a fight.
The 22-year-old’s relatives say they feel totally helpless and fear for his mental health.
His brother Jack was due to see him after a four-month training camp with the British Royal Navy in Bahrain.
FacebookBut instead, Owen was arrested hours before his planned departure.
Jack says Owen had tried to break up a fight.
“When Owen saw the altercation, he went up to the person he knew and pushed him back,” Jack told STV News.
“When they’ve fled, Owen turned around and stayed with the gentleman.
“The night that it happened, Owen was shown CCTV, but he’s the only person who has seen it – along with two police officers.
“So, we were holding onto the hope that we would get the CCTV in court and clear his name, but the hearing lasted ten seconds.
Facebook“Nothing was mentioned other than the fact he’s been given 12 weeks.”
Owen was initially held in a detention centre following the incident on February 14, but he will spend the next three months in the Gulf state’s Hidd Prison.
His family fears that the experience will leave him mentally scarred and are pleading with Royal Navy chiefs, politicians and the Foreign Office to step in and help.
“He’s funny, loving, caring. Hasn’t got a bad bone in his body”, Jack said.
“This could be going on during the sixth week that he’s stayed in the same clothes; he’s not brushed his teeth. He looks unhygienic.
STV News“From a family point of view, it’s obviously been absolutely devasting to know the kind of person Owen is and to know that he is innocent.
“The plea now is that this is going to mentally scar him for the rest of his life.
“The British Embassy said that we could request a royal pardon for Owen. It happens at the end of Eid.
“We’re pleading with the foreign ministers or someone high up to help get this pardon to get Owen out.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The welfare of our people is a top priority which is why we are continuing to support a member of the Royal Navy detained in Bahrain as well as his family.
“We are working with the British Embassy in Bahrain and in regular contact with Bahrain’s law enforcement authorities.
“Regular visits have been made to the individual by the chain of command, colleagues and consular officials to provide support.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British national detained in Bahrain”.
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