Greg Mulholland tweets his outrage at Otley dad's Greek jail hell case (From Ilkley Gazette)

Greg Mulholland tweets his outrage at Otley dad's Greek jail hell case

3:51pm Friday 12th October 2012 in Local news By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter

An MP has blasted the Foreign Office as one of his con-stituents remains languishing in custody in Greece.

Greg Mulholland, who represents Leeds North West, has hit out at the Government department in a series of tweets as efforts are made to get Fran Prenga released.

Mr Prenga, from Otley, has been detained by authorities in Greece since May, firstly on suspicion of more than 70 armed robberies in Athens in 2004 and 2005 and also for a conviction in his absence for allegedly having unlicensed possession of a weapon.

All charges against the 34-year-old were apparently quashed in a Greek courtroom last month. But Mr Prenga has still not been released and is currently being detained in “horrible” conditions, sharing a room with nearly 40 other prisoners, family and friends are claiming.

There is confusion as to why he is still under lock and key, with his family concerned he is being held for allegedly having a fake British passport, which he denies, while there has been problems with paperwork caused by strikes in the beleaguered country.

Mr Mulholland, who has been backing a campaign by family and friends to have Mr Prenga released, has approach-ed the Foreign Office for help more than once. He had organised a meeting between Europe Minister David Liddington and Mr Prenga’s wife, Louise, but has now become frustrated with their responses.

“Have had an absolutely pathetic response from @foreignoffice officials over the ongoing nightmare for my constituent Fran Prenga. #Ashamed,” he tweeted at the weekend.

Further tweets said “Greece is breaking European and international law by contin-uing to imprison an innocent British man yet @foreignoffice not helping” and “Innocent British man held by Greek immigration police and forced to sleep on a concrete floor yet @foreignoffice won’t challenge. #disgrace”.

A foreign office spokesman said the department is providing consular assistance to the family.

He added: “We can confirm the arrest of a British citizen in Rhodes, Greece, on May 8.

“The Minister for Europe, David Liddington MP, met with Greg Mulholland MP and Mr Prenga’s family on July 11 to discuss the case and we continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Prenga.”

Meanwhile, Mr Prenga’s supporters have created a petition to try to get the Foreign Office to do more.