Bigley issued with Irish passport

The Government has issued an Irish passport to Kenneth Bigley, the Liverpulian who is being held hostage in Iraq.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern has confirmed that the family of Kenneth Bigley whose mother is from Dublin asked the Government for a passport to be issued in order to help convince his kidnappers of his Irish citizenship.

Minister Ahern said: “I am happy to agree to the request and I, and the Taoiseach and the Government as a whole, very much hope that it will contribute to the efforts to secure his release.”

The move is designed to try to trigger the release of the 62 year-old who is being held captive by Muslim militants in Baghdad and whose life is in danger.