Grieving families of dead hostages join emotional appeal for three remaining men to be released

Published on Monday 22 June 2009 22:52

THE devastated families of two dead British hostages yesterday joined the relatives of three remaining captives in an emotional appeal for their release.

In a joint statement, the families of all five British hostages pleaded with the group of Iraqi militants holding the three men still believed to be alive, to allow them to be reunited with their loved ones.

They said: "Our grief is profound, but we remain united in our support for each other as a family group."

The heart-rending appeal was made on behalf of the five families by Jan Beattie, best friend of Glasgow-born Jason Creswell, one of two men whose bodies were handed over to the British authorities in Baghdad at the weekend.

DNA tests have confirmed the bodies were those of Mr Creswell, who spent nine years in the army before becoming a bodyguard in Iraq, and his colleague Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

Three other Britons are still believed to be held by the captives. They are two bodyguards, known only as Alan from Dumbarton and Alex from South Wales, and Peter Moore, from Lincoln, the IT consultant they were guarding when they were taken hostage in May 2007.

Ms Beattie said: "We are deeply stunned and saddened by the tragic and upsetting news of the deaths of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst.

"We ask those still holding Alex, Alan and Peter to release them and allow them to return home to their families as soon as possible."