Bahrain grants royal pardon to British sailor Owen Haggerty

Royal Navy sailor Owen Haggerty, 22, has been granted a royal pardon by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, after being sentenced to three months in prison for attempting to break up a street fight. His mother, Kirsty Reynolds, reached out to the king for intervention, expressing her overwhelming relief upon receiving the news. Labour MP Johanna Baxter, who advocated for Haggerty's case in Parliament, expressed her frustration over the lack of communication from the UK government while he was imprisoned, despite having the consent of Haggerty's mother. Baxter emphasized the need for better support for families in similar situations and called for the government to expedite Haggerty's return to the UK. The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office have been recognized for their efforts in securing the pardon. Haggerty's release marks a significant outcome for his family and supporters, who had been deeply concerned about his welfare while in custody.