Activist Simon Chapman has flown home from Greece after the death of his father, it was revealed today.

Simon, of Copdoek, Fryerns, Basildon, was given special permission by the Greek authorities to return to his family in Vange for his father's funeral.

His dad Brian Chapman died on Monday after losing his fight against leukaemia.

Simon has been given two weeks "leave" from his bail conditions which forbid him leaving the country.

He was arrested in June at the EU summit in Thessaloniki, northern Greece.

He was later charged with a number of offences - including possession of petrol bombs - and remanded in custody.

After nine weeks on hunger strike, the 30-year-old was released on bail in November on the condition he did not leave the country.

Published Friday January 2, 2004

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