D Thursday, December 3, 2009 METRO by CON DOHERTy They kept feeding us weve put on weight Free: Sam Usher, 26, Oliver Smith, 31, David bloomer, in his 60s, Oliver young, 21, and Luke Porter, 21 Picture: AP THE five sailors detained for a week in Iran mistakenly entered the countrys waters while trying to avoid oil rigs, Irish sailor David Bloomer said last night. Mr Bloomer, from Wexford, was released along with Britons Oliver Smith, OliverYoung, Sam Usher and Luke Porter yesterday. He said there was no doubt their yacht, the Kingdom of Bahrain, had strayed into Iranian waters as the crew headed from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in a sailing race. We were in their waters but it wasnt marked on the charts that we had, he said. We were trying to avoid the oil rigs in the area. The crew thought they were going to be re- leased immediately when they were stopped and questioned. Then they said they wanted more informa- tion, Mr Bloomer said. Very quickly the people who had stopped us and the people at the base realised it was an innocent mistake. He said the five were fit and healthy and had been treated very well but were delighted that their rollercoaster experience was over. He said: If anything, we may be a bit over- weight because they were feeding us so much. They were told they would be released when the guards brought them breakfast as usual yesterday morning. They said: You are free to go, he said. We were surprised. Mr Bloomer, who works in Bahrain as a ra- dio presenter, said the news was especially welcome as his last night in captivity was particularly bad. I didnt want to build my hopes up, he added. Mr Bloomer said he was pleased the men had been held together so they were better able to keep up their spirits. There were five of us in one room. It might not seem the ideal but we had an en-suite bathroom and were fed very well. But Mr Bloomer said he was looking for- ward to having a beer and bacon and egg. Although the group was well-treated, Mr Bloomer said he found it difficult not to be in charge of his own destiny and not knowing what was happening. Its very difficult. Your mind starts playing all sorts of tricks, thinking about other inci- dents, thinking about how long youre going to be here. He added: Basically, when it came down to it, they had a job to do and they very quickly realised that we had no ill-intent, that we were innocent of all wrongdoing. Asked how they all were, he said: Every- body is fine and in good form now. It was great to get out and do some sailing again. That was what we came here to do. Meanwhile, Mr Bloomers wife, Vanessa, told Metro she was delighted to have her hus- band back. Im extremely happy as anyone can guess. I am glad they are back safe, and perhaps a little overweight also I was told they were very well looked after, and they have put on some weight, she said. I spoke to him several times when he was in international waters. He is in extremely good spirits, but David was always happy so its a bit difficult to knock him down. She added: I was worried that he would be kept there for a very long time. Irish fraudster held in prison AN IRISHMAN whose firm helped look for Madeleine McCann (pictured) was yesterday remanded in custody after US authorities launched extradition proceedings over an alleged $2.1million (1.4m) fraud. The US Department of Justice issued an indictment for Kevin Halligen, 48, alleging he tried to defraud a London law firm. It claims he took the money as part of a deal to secure the release of businessmen arrested in the Ivory Coast but spent it instead. Halligens firm was used by Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry, for around six months last year to look for their missing daughter. Halligen was remanded and the case adjourned until January 27. Detained sailors freed by their Iranian captors index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html32.html33.html34.html35.html