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Chennai Six 'over the moon' as they are freed from Indian jail

The men had been held in India since 2013 after being arrested while travelling as anti-piracy guards.

The men were among 35 crew on a US-operated ship
Image: The men were among 35 crew who were detained by Indian authorities
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The former British soldiers known as the Chennai Six have been freed from jail following their acquittal on weapons charges in India.

After four years locked up, they were pictured smiling and giving a thumbs-up before being driven away in 4x4 vehicles.

Yvonne MacHugh, partner of one of the men - Billy Irving, said they had been taken to the British embassy after being released on Tuesday.

"They will just go to a hotel in Chennai and will be able to sleep in a bed and have a proper shower for the first time in about two years," said Ms MacHugh.

Ray  Tindall was among those released
Image: Ray Tindall was among the men released on Tuesday

She said Mr Irving had already called her and could not believe he had finally been released.

"He's just over the moon and didn't think they would be released," said Ms MacHugh. "He took everything that was said with a pinch of salt and didn't believe it.

"We are hoping they could be home in two weeks. If it's less than that it will be a miracle."

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The men were jailed in October 2013 while working as security guards on a ship in the Indian Ocean.

Indian authorities were said to have found 35 guns and almost 6000 rounds of ammunition, which they claimed had not been properly declared.

But after a four-year legal battle, the men - who have consistently denied the charges - were eventually found not guilty by India's Appeal Court.

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'Chennai Six' will hopefully be home for Christmas

The detained men were Nick Dunn, 31, Billy Irving, 37, John Armstrong, 30, Nicholas Simpson, 47, Ray Tindall, 42, and Paul Towers, 54.

They were among 35 men arrested while working aboard the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, a vessel owned by an American company offering armed protection against piracy to ships travelling between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

All those imprisoned - who also came from Ukraine, Estonia and India - were acquitted.

The charges were at first overturned when the men showed papers for the weapons had been issued by the British government and that they were lawfully held for anti-piracy security.

However, a lower court in India reinstated the charges against the men, leading to their conviction in January 2016 when they were sentenced to five years.

Billy Irving and John Armstrong were pictured leaving the prison
Image: Billy Irving and John Armstrong were also pictured leaving the prison

Following their eventual acquittals, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the court ruling as "fantastic news".

"The FCO has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reunite these men with their families. The importance the UK Government places on their case cannot be overstated," he said.

"The men, their families and their supporters, who have campaigned unrelentingly, must be overjoyed," he said.