Outrage as Iran captives cash in

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Captured sailor Faye Turney and her fellow hostages were accused of 'behaving like reality TV stars' after being given permission to cash in on their ordeal.

The 15 sailors and Marines have been told they can sell their stories to the media by the Ministry of Defence, which bracketed the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding their 13-day ordeal with winners of the Victoria Cross.

Mrs Turney has told The Sun how she feared she would be raped by her Iranian captors. The 26-year-old mother said she was separated from the other sailors and Marines, and stripped to her underwear. She said she "felt like a traitor" when ordered to write "confession" letters on Iranian TV.



Iranian television has now released fresh footage of the sailors and Marines aimed at refuting claims they they were mistreated.

The video clips showed several of the sailors and marines dressed in track suits playing chess and table tennis.

The newscaster, who spoke over the beginning of the footage, said the video proved "the sailors had complete liberty during their detention, which contradicts what the sailors declared after they arrived in Britain."


New footage: The sailors and marines 'relax' with a meal and games while in captivity


News that Mrs Turney alone is likely to make at least £100,000 was condemned by former Defence Ministers, ex-soldiers - and families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At Westminster, even some Labour MPs suspected a Government spin operation designed to distract attention away from embarrassing questions over the capture itself. PR expert Max Clifford said he had been approached by the fathers of two of the hostages for advice on how to do a deal with the media.

He described the decision as a "propaganda exercise" because it "suited" the MoD for the stories to be told.

"They were very encouraging, they were very happy about them doing this, that's the way they (the fathers) were putting it to me," said Mr Clifford.

Mike Aston, whose 30-year-old son Russell was one of six Redcaps killed by an Iraqi mob, said he was "absolutely amazed" by the "tacky and sordid" decision.

He said: "Regarding my son's death, I can put my hand on my heart and say that I've never sought or made a penny out of it. I think to actually sell my story would besmirch my son's memory."

Mrs Turney, 26 - who did not appear alongside some of her colleagues at Friday's press conference - is expected to tell her story to a tabloid newspaper and has given an interview to be broadcast this evening on ITV's Tonight with Trevor McDonald.

Royal Marine Dean Harris told one Sunday newspaper he wanted £70,000 for his story and the father of Marine Joe Tindell claimed some of the hostages were planning to sell on eBay the vases given to them in farewell "goody bags" by the Iranians. John Tindell said the MoD told them: "Go out there, tell the truth and make the money."

Defence Secretary Des Browne approved the decision and Downing Street confirmed it had

been made aware of the controversial move, but a Number 10 spokesman insisted: "We did not have any involvement in it.

On the unofficial website the Army Rumour Service, some contributors suggested the hostages who decide to sell should leave the Armed Forces - and all proceeds should be donated to families of those killed in Iraq.

One wrote: 'Bloody ridiculous! Two sodding weeks, not a scratch, fed and watered, cigs, new suits. Heroes my a***!'

Lieutenant Felix Carman, one of the two officers captured by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said if he made any cash from his story it would go to charity.

"I am not interested in making money out of this,' the 26-year- old from Swansea told the BBC. "My main aim is to tell the story. There's some people who might be making money, but that's an individual's decision.

"I think every one of us has had offers. I think the MoD has played this quite well. Somebody, somewhere is going to make money out of this story, and they've said we're happy for you guys, the people who've been involved, to actually be the ones that do that."

The parents of Marine Captain Chris Air said he would not be selling his story. "He's not comfortable with the idea," said his father Robin.

"If others want to sell their story then fair play to them. Some aren't on great salaries so this could change their lives.

"He may have done something with the rest of the men and pooled the money. But now he's decided he doesn't want to keep bringing it up again and again."

Serving military personnel are permitted to speak to the media, but only with the permission of their senior officers.