Latest News

Latest

MEPs campaign against EU Arrest Warrant

Thursday, 27th May 2010

Two UKIP MEPs have vowed to do everything in their power to get Birmingham City supporter Garry Mann released from a Portuguese jail and see justice is served.

Mike Nattrass and William Dartmouth say they are appalled at the shambolic treatment of the father of six, who is set to serve two years in a Portuguese prison following a trial described a ‘travesty of justice’.

Garry Mann, 52, from Faversham in Kent, was accused of taking part in a riot in Portugal during the Euro 2004 football championship. British police, judges and Fair Trials International have all condemned his sentence.

Now the UKIP MEPs are campaigning for the former firefighter to be freed and be brought back to Britain.

Mr Nattrass and Mr Dartmouth say the sentence is totally unjust as the EU’s European Arrest Warrant left British police and judges powerless to act against sending Mr Mann to a foreign prison.

Mr Mann was arrested, tried and convicted within 48 hours and was only given five minutes to speak to a lawyer before the trial. Mr Mann also says no proper interpreters were provided during his brief court appearance.

Mr Nattrass said: “I am appalled by this whole situation and I agree with William Dartmouth and Fair Trials International that the trial was a travesty of justice. We will do everything in our power to get Mr Mann back home where he belongs.

“We no longer have control over who is taken from our country by the European Union as our MEPs have handed away that control. Gone are the days when a British subject could rely on a British Court to refuse extradition to a foreign country in unjust or unproven circumstances.

“Mr Mann is a father of six and my thoughts are with his family. As a result of the European Arrest Warrant Mr Mann has been dragged away from his family without a fair trial.

European Arrest Warrants were introduced by the EU with the support of Tory, Lib Dem and Labour MEPs. UKIP’s representatives strongly opposed the measures.

Mr Dartmouth said: “The European Arrest Warrant was supposed to be an important weapon in the war against terrorism. Instead it is being used to drag people from home and family to face trial and punishment in foreign lands for minor offences.

“What is shocking is that our judges are forced to admit there is nothing they can do faced with this Arrest Warrant. I call on this new Government to put an immediate stop on the use of this warrant until it can be looked at again.

“It may still be an important part of the work in tracking down terrorists or serious criminals but not for lesser crimes which should be handled in our own courts.”

Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said: “There is no justice in this man being torn from his home and family and sent to Portugal to serve a two year sentence imposed after a grossly unfair trial.”

Back to Latest News

You can add your comment here