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Mercury urges PM to step in over plane-spotter

The Leicester Mercury has written to the Prime Minister asking him to personally intervene to free Garry Fagan, who is behind bars in Greece on allegations of spying.

Garry was arrested with 11 other British plane-spotters on November 8 and it is still uncertain when they will be allowed to return home.

The paper’s letter to Tony Blair reads: “They have, ludicrously, been charged with spying and are now caught up in the unwieldy Greek judicial system.

“We believe, as do many of our readers, that his continued imprisonment in squalid conditions is unfair and unnecessary and that now is the time for you to intervene on their behalf.

“It is now time for you to bring pressure to bear on the Greek authorities to bring a swift end to this legal shambles.”

The Mercury has also written, in Greek, to the Greek ambassador, to protest about Garry’s imprisonment, and has sent Garry a package of clothes, toiletries and newspapers in an effort to help him through his time in jail.

His mum, Betty Fagan, said: “The parcel is a good thing to do. Anything that makes a difference to Garry is welcome because things have not been too hopeful, so far.”

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