HEADING HOME
Scots Royal Navy sailor, 22, who was jailed in Bahrain FREED after mum pleads with King for royal pardon
Owen's mum was 'shaking with disbelief' after receiving the news
A ROYAL Navy sailor who was jailed in the Middle East has been freed after his mum sent an emotional letter to the King of Bahrain asking for a royal pardon.
Owen Haggerty was locked up after he broke up a brawl between another seaman and an Egyptian singer last month.
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The 22-year-old, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, had spent four months in the Middle Eastern island state serving on minesweeper HMS Bangor.
He was on his first deployment since signing up two years ago and told loved ones he was “desperate” to travel to Bahrain.
The able seaman had been out with pals to mark their last night on duty when he was picked up by cops on Valentine’s Day.
Owen had stepped in when a spat between another military man and a musician turned physical.
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He separated the pair then stayed behind to calm the situation when he was taken in by police.
After Owen was locked up in the brutal Al Hidd jail, his mum Kirsty Reynolds penned an emotional plea to the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for a royal pardon, the Daily Record reported.
Today, she told friends and family on social media that Owen had been granted his pardon and will be returning home.
She said she was "shaking with disbelief" after receiving the news.
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Her Facebook post read: "I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as I share the incredible news that Owen has been granted his pardon and will be returning home soon!
"I’m shaking with disbelief but also with happiness, I can’t stop smiling and crying an absolute whirlwind of emotions.
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"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who shared this journey with us, who reached out with messages of support, and who helped in any way along the way.
"Your love and encouragement have meant the world to us, and I truly cannot thank you all enough.
"I can't wait to have Owen back home, where he belongs!"
Owen was sentenced to three months in prison following a 10 second hearing.
His loved ones previously stated that the only way he would get out early is if he handed over £50,000 in compensation to the entertainer who suffered a “cut nose and bump to the head”.
Kirsty only had a few brief video calls with Owen since he was locked up last month where he broke down crying and told her: “Mum, I didn’t do it.”
We previously told how former Celtic ace Jack Hendry was fighting to secure Owen's release.
The Scotland international is close friends with the crewman’s brother and was providing aid to his family after signing for Saudi Arabian premiership side Al-Ettifaq.
Kirsty said at the time: "Jack has been a huge support.
"He lives out there and has been helping Owen’s brother with a visa so that he can get over to visit him and attend court hearings.
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"Jack has offered to get the officials at his club to try and intervene.
"He says it’s all about who you know and that these influential people might be able to help. It’s money over morals."
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