http://
www.algarveresident.com/0-43098/
algarve/garry-mann-is-released
Former fire fighter Gary Mann, the British citizen who was
sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a riot in Albufeira during the 2004
football championships, has been released from custody.
After spending a year in prison in Portugal and then several
months in jail in the UK, the father of six from Kent has finally
been released.
Garry Mann said: “I am glad to be home with my family. It was a
tough experience to be so far away from home but I’m hoping
to finally get on with my life now.”
His release from prison sees the end of a legal battle waged by Garry Mann, his lawyers and the
human rights organisation Fair
Trials International, a battle which has been ongoing for seven years. Garry Mann was arrested by police in Albufeira on June 15,
2004 and was then tried and convicted within 48 hours for his involvement in a riot.
It is claimed by Fair Trials International that Garry only had
five minutes with his lawyer before the trial and did not know
what he had been charged with until he had been convicted.
Following the conviction, Garry
Mann consented to deportation from Portugal back to the UK and it was only on October 6, 2008
that British police arrested Garry Mann under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Portugal which stated that he was to
serve a two year prison sentence
in Portugal for his crimes four years earlier.
In an earlier interview with the Algarve Resident, Garry Mann
spoke of how he felt he had been used as a scapegoat in the
case: “I was made an example of
to bring an abrupt end to any
more violence. I believe that the
English and Portuguese
authorities conspired against me making me a scapegoat.”
Central to the entire case was the use of the European Arrest
Warrant, a fast track system for surrendering people from one European country to another to
face trial or prison sentence. Fair Trials International believe
the warrant has “removed many
of the traditional safeguards in
the extradition process,” adding
that the association has “serious
concerns about Europe’s fast
track system for extradition and
defence rights across the EU”.
Jago Russell, the Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said:
“The European Arrest Warrant has turned this family’s life
upside down. Sadly, until it is reformed and we have better
standards of justice in Europe others will suffer the same fate.
We are delighted that Garry is finally able to return home but he
should never have been extradited to Portugal following
a trial which can only be described as a travesty of justice.”ional that Garry only had
five minutes with his lawyer before the trial and did not know
what he had been charged with until he had been convicted.
Following the conviction, Garry
Mann consented to deportation from Portugal back to the UK and it was only on October 6, 2008
that British police arrested Garry Mann under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Portugal which stated that he was to
serve a two year prison sentence
in Portugal for his crimes four years earlier.
In an earlier interview with the Algarve Resident, Garry Mann
spoke of how he felt he had been used as a scapegoat in the
case: “I was made an example of
to bring an abrupt end to any
more violence. I believe that the
English and Portuguese
authorities conspired against me making me a scapegoat.”
Central to the entire case was the use of the European Arrest
Warrant, a fast track system for surrendering people from one European country to another to
face trial or prison sentence. Fair Trials International believe
the warrant has “removed many
of the traditional safeguards in
the extradition process,” adding
that the association has “serious
concerns about Europe’s fast
track system for extradition and
defence rights across the EU”.
Jago Russell, the Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said:
“The European Arrest Warrant has turned this family’s life
upside down. Sadly, until it is reformed and we have better
standards of justice in Europe others will suffer the same fate.
We are delighted that Garry is finally able to return home but he
should never have been extradited to Portugal following
a trial which can only be described as a travesty of justice.”