Hugh Robertson meets Foreign Office with Garry Mann in attempt to prevent extradition

Hugh Robertson, the MP for Faversham, accompanied Faversham Fire Fighter, Garry Mann, to a meeting at the Foreign Office yesterday to try and get his extradition to Portugal quashed.

They were accompanied by Garry Mann’s Solicitor and the Chief Executive of Fair Trials International.

Garry Mann was convicted in Portugal in 2004 of football hooliganism under temporary legislation introduced for the 2004 Football European Cup. He was arrested, tried and convicted within 48 hours in a trial where he was unable to instruct a lawyer or understand the proceedings. The case has been heard twice in English Courts and on both occasions the judge has raised serious doubts about the trial process. Garry Mann has always maintained his innocence.

At the meeting, the Foreign Office acknowledged that the original trial was flawed and agreed to look at three options. These are:-

i) To argue that six years has passed and the legislation was temporary so the case should be dropped.

ii) Wait until the case to the European Court of Human Rights has been heard – which would delay any possible extradition for a number of years.

iii) Apply to restart the process which would allow Garry Mann the chance to have his case reheard.

Hugh Robertson said, “The crucial thing about this case is that on both occasions it has been heard in a British Court, the judge has cast serious doubt on both the process and the outcome.

The original conviction in Portugal was secured under a temporary law without Garry Mann having the chance to defend himself. It is impossible to conclude anything else than that the conviction is unsound.”