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'Iran Cash Is For Charity'
One of the Royal Navy personnel held by Iran has said that any money he made out of his story would go to charity.
'Iran Cash Is For Charity'
Updated: 19:32, Sunday April 08, 2007
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 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."
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.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1259665,00.html
One of the Royal Navy personnel held by Iran has said that any money he made out of his story would go to charity.
'Iran Cash Is For Charity'
Updated: 19:32, Sunday April 08, 2007
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 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."
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.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1259665,00.html
