Plane spotters’ ordeal nearly over

The group of British plane spotters who were acquitted of spying in Greece say they are nearing the end of their ordeal. Nine of the original group of 12, who were caught “spying” at Kalamata airport, have been fighting to get their bail money back from the Greek authorities after their convictions were quoshed in the appeal courts in November 2002. The Greek courts did not return their bail money because of a dispute over fees owed to one of the group’s lawyers. Now, according to the online news provider Ananova, seven of the nine have agreed a settlement with the lawyer, who claimed he was owed more than GBP2000 by each of the group. Peter Norris, one of the group, reportedly said: “This is the beginning of the end; I hope we will be able to wrap things up in a couple of weeks. There is nothing else now that should stop the money being returned.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad