22-year-old Owen Haggerty will soon be free after being incarcerated in the Middle East last month.
A young sailor from the Royal Navy, detained in the Middle East, has been granted a royal pardon by the Bahraini monarch.
Owen Haggerty, a 22-year-old from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, will be released following his arrest for intervening in a street fight last month. His detention occurred just one day before his scheduled return from deployment in the Middle East.
His mother, Kirsty Reynolds, wrote a heartfelt letter to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, pleading for her son’s pardon.
Today, her fervent appeal was granted. Kirsty expressed her overwhelming emotion, stating she was “shaking” upon hearing the news.
The 41-year-old shared, “I can’t stop shaking. It’s incredible news, a significant obstacle we’ve overcome in our efforts to bring Owen home.”
Amid concerns that her letter might remain unanswered due to the upcoming Islamic Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Kirsty was on a critical call with MP Johanna Baxter when she received a call from the embassy.
She explained, “Johanna has been incredibly supportive and was preparing to raise his case in the House of Commons. I was on a call when I noticed the embassy number trying to reach me, it rang three times. I excused myself from the call with Johanna.”
“I opened up my laptop and it said ‘urgent call for Owen Haggerty’.
“My case worker came up and she said I’ve got some great news.
“I just burst out crying right away I was just in disbelief.
“I sent a letter last Monday and today we have a royal pardon.”
Owen was sentenced to three months in prison after a 10 second hearing last month.
His family say he had tried to stop a street brawl and remained at the scene to check on an injured victim when he was taken away by police.
He had been held in a detention centre and later sent to tough Hidd Prison.
