Football fan Garry Mann reunited with family

A former fire fighter branded a football thug and thrown in a Portuguese jail after a trial described as a “farce” has been reunited with his family.

Garry Mann – who was twice commended for bravery during his 31-year career in the fire service – was extradited in May 2010 and sent to prison to serve two years for involvement in a riot in 2004, something he always denied. His controversial trial was described as a “farce” by a British police officer present and the use of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) to extradite him heavily criticised prompting the promise of a review of the legislation by Government officials.

Despite a battle by lawyers at Fair Trials International he was extradited to Portugal to serve a two year sentence in May 2010.

UK courts said they were powerless to stop the extradition under the EAW regime.

Mr Mann said the first few weeks in Portugal were extremely tough where he was put in a cell with no lighting, dismal conditions, including excrement on the walls, and food served under the door.

He said he had been let down by the politicians that agreed to the UK’s rigid extradition laws and the judges “not willing to stand up for justice”.

“This (EAW) was supposed to have been for terrorists implemented after the 9/11 attack, but for some reason I have been caught in its net,” he said. “I am not the first victim of this system and, until it is reformed, I won’t be the last.”

Chief executive of Fair Trials International, Jago Russell, said the EAW had turned Mr Mann’s family “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.”