London - The former Beirut hostage, Mr Tom Sutherland, and his family have been awarded a record $58.5 million in compensation by the US government following a legal case against Iran - about $10 million for every year he was kept in captivity.
Scots-born Mr Sutherland, now 70, was a dean at the American University in Beirut when he was abducted as he drove home from the airport in June 1985, following a trip to the US to see his daughter's graduation. He was held captive for 6-1/2 years. There will be no such payments for fellow hostages Brian Keenan, Terry Waite or John McCarthy as no similar law has been adopted in the UK.