Father-of-three Brian Glendinning held in Iraq prison over Qatar bank ‘debt’ returns home
A father has been reunited with his family after being detained in a “vile” Iraqi prison over an alleged bank debt.
There were emotional scenes on Saturday when Brian Glendinning, a construction worker from Fife, flew into Edinburgh to be greeted by his loved ones.
Mr Glendinning, 43, had been working at an oil refinery in Iraq, but was arrested on an Interpol red notice at Baghdad airport on 12 September over an alleged debt owed to the Qatar National Bank.
He was met at Edinburgh airport by his mother, Meta, his wife, Kimberly, daughters Heidi, 16, and Lexi, 12, and his brothers John and Lee after returning flying in from Istanbul.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, Mr Glendinning said: “I just didn’t think this time was coming anytime soon.”
He added he was now “back where I belong with my family and my friends”.
He thanked all those who had supported him and worked for his freedom, including Radha Stirling, founder of the Interpol and Extradition Reform (Ipex) initiative, and Douglas Chapman, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, who was also at the airport to greet him.
“If it wasn’t for the support from everybody back home, my family and my friends, Douglas Chapman, Radha Stirling, I would still have been there,” Mr Glendinning said.
“To be honest, I think I would have been on my way to Qatar and it wouldn’t have been for the World Cup.”
His mother Meta was ‘overwhelmed’ at her son’s return
He was unable to shave during the time in prison – with his brother John saying there had only been a single communal shaver in the jail, where Mr Glendinning had been kept in “vile” conditions.
Mr Glendinning joked: “It’s just time to get home and get to the barbers.”
His wife said he had missed her 40th birthday while behind bars but his return was “my birthday and Christmas in one”.
Mr Glendinning’s mother, Meta, 67, said she was “ecstatic” and “overwhelmed” at her son’s return.
“I’m over the moon,” she said.
“I’ve lived in fear for nine weeks, utter fear.”
The construction engineer says he is ‘back where he belongs’
His elder brother Lee, 48, admitted: “I didn’t think I would see him home. If I am being honest I didn’t think I would see my brother again.”
Speaking about Mr Glendinning’s time in prison, he added: “He was in with the Taliban, he was in with murderers and all over £4,000 of debt.
“But the fact that he is out now is amazing.”
Unable to shave during his captivity, Mr Glendinning joked he was looking forward to a trip to the barbers
Ms Stirling said: “This is the moment we have been working towards the past five weeks and we’re incredibly relieved to see him back on UK soil.
“Brian is going to take some time to rest and recuperate with his family before telling the world about the horrific experience he was forced to endure at the hands of Qatar, a country that has spent a fortune portraying itself as a tolerant society.
“Once Brian has rested, we intend to push for British safeguards and to hold Qatar to account for the repeated abuse of our citizens”.
An outbreak of a waterborne disease in Devon has prompted urgent warnings for residents to boil their tap water.
At least 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis disease have been confirmed in and around the town of Brixham in South West England.
But what is the parasite that is making people sick, what are the symptoms of being infected with it and how serious can it be?
What is cryptosporidiosis disease?
Cryptosporidiosis is the disease caused by the parasite cryptosporidium.
Often shortened to crypto, infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing contaminated water in swimming pools or streams.
It can also be acquired through contact with the faeces of infected animals or humans.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include:
• profuse watery diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• nausea or vomiting
• low-grade fever
• loss of appetite
How long does it last?
Most people develop symptoms within one to 12 days of picking up the parasite.
Symptoms usually last for about two weeks, but can last up to six weeks or longer when the immune system is not working properly.
During the illness, you might think you are getting better but the illness returns a couple of days later before you fully recover.
How serious is it?
Most people recover, but in people with severely weakened immune systems it can cause severe disease and can be fatal.
Serious cases and death used to be more common, according to Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
This is because before effective antiretroviral treatments were introduced for HIV/AIDS, people living with these illnesses would not recover if they picked up cryptosporidiosis.
Who is most at risk of serious illness?
People with weak immune systems are at greater risk of serious illness. This includes:
• people on some immunosuppressive drugs, for example cancer or transplant patients
• people with untreated HIV/AIDS
• malnourished children
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Residents ‘worried’ over water parasite
Does it need treatment?
There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis.
It important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, according to advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
You might also want to talk to a pharmacist about oral rehydration sachets to help replace the sugar, salts and minerals the body has lost.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay’s Director of Public Health, said anyone with “severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea” should contact NHS 111 or their GP.
Severe cases may require hospital treatment.
How do you know if you have crypto?
The symptoms of crypto are similar to other stomach bugs, so the only way to know for sure if you have it is for your doctor to send a sample of your faeces to be tested in a laboratory.
Read more:
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Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
How can you stop the illness spreading?
If you are ill, stay away from nursery, school or work while you have symptoms, and for at least 48 hours after they stop.
You should also avoid swimming for two weeks after being unwell.
You should not prepare food for anyone else until 48 hours after diarrhoea has stopped.
Make sure you’re using good handwashing practices too, washing your hands thoroughly when handling food and after using the toilet.
The UKHSA also advises washing bedding and towels on the hottest possible cycle.
UK
Lucy Letby: Families of victims want inquiry live streamed to stop ‘grossly offensive’ conspiracy theories
The inquiry into how nurse Lucy Letby was able to murder babies at a hospital in Chester will begin to hear evidence in September.
Lawyers for the families of Letby’s victims told a preliminary hearing that the inquiry should be live streamed to the public to prevent the spread of “grossly offensive” conspiracy theories.
Letby was sentenced to 14 whole-life orders after she was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working on the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
At the preliminary hearing, inquiry chair Lady Justice Thirlwall heard submissions on whether the hearings should be publicly broadcast.
Peter Skelton KC, on behalf of the families of six babies, said Letby’s crimes continued to be the subject of conspiracy theories online.
“One of the most effective antidotes to those theories and the damage they cause will be to see and to hear the people involved in the hospital give a true and comprehensive account of the facts,” he said.
But Andrew Kennedy KC, representing the Countess of Chester, said there was a “high level of anxiety” from staff at the prospect of giving evidence which was live streamed.
He said: “If a witness is concerned about live-streaming then if we can remove that concern we can, we would suggest, encourage candour, frankness and openness.”
Letby was given multiple whole-life terms and will be re-tried on one charge next month
Richard Baker KC, representing some of the other families, said: “Their desire in this case is for change and so that others do not experience what they have experienced.”
They were “saddened” and “concerned” at the suggestion the lack of transparency might continue, he said.
Lady Justice Thirlwall will give her decision on whether the hearings will be broadcast at a later date.
She had begun the proceedings with a pause for reflection on the “lives lost”, “injuries sustained” and “suffering” of the families.
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The hearing was told 188 requests for information had been made to individuals including midwives, nurses, doctors, managers and members of the hospital board.
The inquiry hearings are scheduled to begin on 10 September at Liverpool Town Hall.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The parents of the babies will be among the first to give evidence.
Counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC told the hearing: “There are no sides. It is a search for the truth.”
Last month Letby asked the Court of Appeal for permission to mount a full legal challenge to her conviction. Judges are due to rule on this at a later date.
The former nurse is due to face a re-trial next month on one charge of the attempted murder of a baby in February 2016.
UK
Kent: 25 workers ‘poisoned’ at Swaleside prison by ‘inmates working in staff canteen’, union says
More than two dozen staff at a prison in Kent were “deliberately poisoned” with the drug spice, a union has said.
Workers were allegedly given the narcotic by “prisoners working in the staff canteen” at HMP Swaleside in Kent, the Criminal Justice Workers Union said.
Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, can cause dizziness, breathing difficulties, chest pain, seizures and paranoia, according to the NHS website.
Some 25 staff were “poisoned” at the men’s high-security jail, union official Andy Hamlin said.
Nine ambulances attended and an emergency incident unit was set up “within the establishment”, Mr Hamlin added.
Five people were taken to hospital last week, he said, although South East Coast Ambulance Service said three had needed hospital treatment.
While it is not unusual for prisoners to be working in staff canteens, they are expected to be “low-risk”, Mr Hamlin commented.
That “clearly hasn’t happened in this case”, he added, and is calling for a “full investigation”.
HM Prison and Probation Service “must do more to protect the health and safety of its staff”, he said.
It is understood that none of the those affected were in a critical condition and all have since been discharged from hospital.
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Nine ambulances are said to have attended
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “A number of staff were taken ill following an incident at HMP Swaleside last week but have all now returned to work.
“There is an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: “I can confirm that South East Coast Ambulance responded to a medical incident at HMP Swaleside in Eastchurch, Sheerness, after being called at approximately 2.10pm on Thursday 9 May.
“Ambulance crews attended and worked alongside the prison medical team to assess and treat a number of patients at the scene before three were taken by ambulance to hospital for further checks.”
Kent Police said officers attended to assist the ambulance service.
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