[Mrluvaluva]

From www.metro.co.uk

The 15 British service personnel held captive in Iran have been given special permission to sell their stories to the media.

The Ministry of Defence said it had taken the unusual decision because of the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding their 13-day ordeal.

It means that the eight Royal Navy sailors and seven Royal Marines can now look forward to five or six-figure payouts.

However, the move could also expose them to criticism from others in the armed forces who have suffered as a result of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan but have not been able to cash in in the same way.

In a brief statement confirming the decision, the MoD likened their position to that of someone who had won the Victoria Cross - the military's highest award for gallantry in the face of enemy fire.

"Serving personnel are not allowed to enter into financial arrangements with media organisations. However, in exceptional circumstances - such as the award of a Victoria Cross or events such as those in recent days - permission can be granted by commanding officers and the MoD," the statement said.

Among those who stand to benefit is Leading Seaman Faye Turney - the only woman among the 15. According to reports in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph, she has now sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor McDonald show and a newspaper for a sum in excess of £100,000.

The decision to allow sailors and marines to sell their stories has caused unease from some who have lost loved ones in the Gulf and others in military circles.

Mike Aston, whose 30-year-old son Corporal Russell Aston was one of six military policemen killed by a mob in Majar al-Kabir, Iraq, in June 2003, said he was "absolutely amazed" by the Ministry of Defence's decision.

Rose Gentle, whose son 19-year-old Fusilier Gordon Gentle was killed in Basra in June 2004, told the Sunday Times: "This is wrong and I don't think it should be allowed by the MoD. None of the parents who have lost loved ones in Iraq have sold their stories."


What do you think? Should they be able to sell their stories?

[Sunny_01]

I am very surprised that the MOD are allowing them to do this! It is so out of character for the MOD to allow anything like this to take place.

I suppose as they are not going to drop their country in it with Iran, or give away any official secrets then who are we to say they shouldnt.

[Mrluvaluva]

I am also very surprised at this Sunny. Are we seeing a new benchmark? I really was astonished to see that they had sanctioned this.

[Mrluvaluva]

From Sky News

One of the Royal Navy personnel held by Iran has said that any money he made out of his story would go to charity.


It follows the announcement that the 15 former captives have been given special permission to cash in by selling their stories to the media.

Lieutenant Felix Carman said: "I am not interested in making money out of this. My main aim is to tell the story.

"There's some people who might be making money, but that's an individual's decision, that's very private, but that's not something that myself or many of the others will do."

He added: "I'd happily do it for free. But if there is money on offer then it would probably go to charity."

Another one of the 15, Captain Chris Air, has said he did not plan to sell his story, but felt that his comrades were entitled to - particularly if it helped them to deal with any trauma.

The group in captivity The Ministry of Defence said it had taken the unusual decision because of the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding their 13-day ordeal.

It means that the eight Royal Navy sailors and seven Royal Marines can now look forward to five or six-figure payouts.

However the move could also expose them to criticism from others in the Armed Forces who have suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan but have not been able to cash in the same way.

The MoD, in a statement, said: "It was clear that the stories they had to tell were likely to have emerged via family and friends regardless of any decision the Navy took.

"It was therefore decided to grant permission to speak to the media to those personnel that sought it, in order to ensure that the Navy and the MoD had sight of what they were going to say as well as providing proper media support to the sailors and Marines in the same way as would have been the case in more ordinary circumstances."

Faye Turney on left Among those who stand to benefit is Leading Seaman Faye Turney - the only woman in the party - whose story has attracted intense media interest.

She was not among the six sailors and marines at a press conference on Friday, at the Royal Marines Base at Chivenor, Devon, where they were reunited with their families.

However, according to reports in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph, she has now sold her story to ITV1 and a newspaper for more than £100,000.

The disclosure of the deals caused unease among senior opposition politicians.

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "One of the great things about our Armed Forces is their professionalism and dignity.

"Many people who shared the anxiety of the hostages' abduction will feel that selling their stories is somewhat undignified and falls below the very high standards we have come to expect from our servicemen and women."

The Sunday Times reported that the marines had decided to pool their money, giving 10% to their service benevolent fund, while the sailors were expected to keep theirs individually.



"Probably".

[Sunny_01]

Personally I was disgusted at the way they were paraded for the press during their capture and equally disgusted at the way they were paraded for the press upon their return. I think in this situation a little diplomacy should be shown. In the same 24 hours they were released 4 of our troops were killed, how do they get to sell their stories?

[Mrluvaluva]

From Sky News

The Defence Secretary has taken full responsibility after two members of the navy crews held captive in Iran were allowed to sell their stories.

Des Browne said he had only been asked to "note", not endorse, the Royal Navy decision to let sailors cash in.

But "responsibility for that rests with me," he conceded.

He said: "A note indicating the decision and the analysis of the regulations that supported that decision came into my office on Thursday.

" ... over that weekend I accepted the analysis that was put forward to me by the navy, but I wasn't content with it."

He went on: "Clearly with hindsight I could have made a different decision."

Iranian gunboats seized 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines off the Iraqi coast on March 23.

Leading Seaman Faye Turney (L) sold her story to The Sun They were held for 13 days while Tehran and Britain argued over whether the crews had entered Iran's waters.

Members of the public, politicians and even some of those held in Tehran were outraged at the sale of the stories.

Conservative leader David Cameron demanded an inquiry into the "calamitous".

Mr Browne confirmed he would make a statement to the Commons about operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, when Parliament resumes on Monday.

But he would not go into details of what operational lessons might have been learned from the episode for future boarding parties in Iraqi waters.

Mr Browne insisted: "I said at the outset, although this was a navy decision I have to take responsibility for it, and I don't seek to hide behind the fact that the navy made the decision.

"Ultimately, the buck stops here."