A Nigerian pirate who lost his leg in a shoot-out with the Danish navy is set to have his replacement limb funded by the taxpayer as part of a special residency deal pushed through by the country’s government.
Lucky Frances, who lost the firefight with the Scandinavian nation’s navy three years ago, will receive education, employment guidance and an “integration contract” to ensure that he becomes a productive member of society.
Denmark’s decision immediately came under fire from within, with the right-wing Danish People’s Party (DF) saying the decision made a mockery of the country’s immigration and security policy.
Mikkel Bjorn, the DF’s integration spokesman, said: “This is absolutely absurd. That man should never have been in Denmark and to imagine that he can now be meaningfully integrated in Denmark is completely beyond the pale.”
The pirate will receive education, employment guidance and an “integration contract” in Denmark (file photo)
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The pirate’s run-in with the navy has made Denmark’s headlines since 2021.
Four of his fellow pirates had been killed and three had been set free in the confrontation with Danish frigate Esbern Snare in the Gulf of Guinea – but Frances required and received medical treatment, including the amputation of his leg.
He was brought back to Denmark, where he recovered – before being found guilty of endangering Danish lives.
But Frances was spared jail and went on to claim asylum in Denmark.
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Four of Frances’s fellow pirates had been killed in the Gulf of Guinea
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As part of his deal to stay, Frances must sign an “integration contract” which “contains a number of set goals that Lucky must meet in order to be integrated and otherwise continue to receive his self-support and repatriation benefits”, local outlet BT reported.
He will also receive an allowance for his new leg.
The Nigerian’s case is currently thought to have cost the public 4.2 million Danish Kroner (£300,000) on top of his medical bills, according to DR, another Danish media outlet.
Last year, the ex-pirate said that he initially just wanted to recover in Denmark before returning to his homeland – but later changed his mind and applied for asylum, despite his daughter’s hesitations.
Frances had been involved in the confrontation with Danish frigate Esbern Snare
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He said: “Going back to Africa will not be good for me.
“I have thought about my situation. I have also spoken to my family and explained to them about my physical condition.
“They are okay with me applying for asylum, even if my daughter is not completely satisfied.”
Steffen Larsen, a spokesman for Denmark’s Liberal Alliance, also heaped scorn on the debacle, saying: “This shows that [famous Danish comedy writer] Erik Balling’s Denmark is alive and well. It looks like a satirical side story in an Olsen Banden film.
“After we have shot the man’s leg off in battle, we must then send him on a work trial and teach him Danish. Good luck with that.”