Richey: "It's good to be home"

When asked if he had anything to say to those who convicted him, he said: "I don't think you want to hear that."

He was then whisked off by minders working for newspapers who are understood to have paid £50,000 for his story.

Richey waved a lion rampant Scotland flag from the door of the car as he was driven off.

PR guru Max Clifford, who is representing Richey, has said he has done a deal with two newspapers.

"He has no compensation for the 21 years he has wasted on Death Row," Mr Clifford said.

"At one time he was shaved and called his mother to say his final goodbye.

"But he was always said he was innocent and asked for a retrial. It is an incredible story and what he has been through is horrendous."

Richey was freed from prison in Ohio on Monday after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors, following more than 21 years on Death Row.

His homecoming had been delayed when his flight from Chicago to Heathrow was cancelled because of bad weather. He had initially been expected to catch a connecting flight to Edinburgh, arriving at 2pm.

Instead he boarded a flight to Frankfurt in Germany, before arriving in the Capital.

It also emerged today that Richey spent his first night of freedom in the arms of his ex-wife Wendy, 50, with whom he is reunited. She said: "All I can say is that I feel really happy and good things have gone well."

It was also reported that Richey – who gleefully vowed he was going to "get some nookie" after his release – plans to wed Wendy for a second time later this year. The couple have a 22-year-old son, Sean. Meanwhile, Richey's mother told the Evening News that her son had pledged to stay away from alcohol when he returns to the Capital.

On Monday, he enjoyed a can of Tennent's with his lawyer at his brother Steven's house to fulfil a promise made 12 years ago to toast his release.

But his 63-year-old mother Eileen said he had promised to stay off alcohol because of medication he is taking for his heart condition.

She said: "I spoke to him on the phone while he was having the party at Steven's house. He was in good spirits and was excited about coming out.

"It sounded like they were having a really good time at the party but I said, 'Kenny, you better not be drinking' and he promised he wouldn't.

"He can't drink because of the medication he's on for his health."

Richey was known to be a big drinker before he was sent to jail in 1987 over an arson attack in which two-year-old Cynthia Collins died. His conviction for murder and arson was overturned last year.

Mrs Richey, of Orwell Terrace, Dalry, also said she was unsure whether her son's romance with his ex-wife could last.

She said: "I don't know how they will be able to keep seeing each other. Kenny won't be going back to the US, so it was really a farewell party at Steven's."

After his release, Richey spoke about other "innocent men" on Ohio's death row and Amnesty International today welcomed his support.

John Watson, Scottish programme director, said: "I was pleased that almost the first thing he said when he was a free man was that he wanted to help others who he knew were innocent."

Richey's ex-fiancee, Karen Torley from Glasgow, who spent years campaigning for his release, added: "When he comes home he will join Amnesty International and look at these cases."

Last night, Mr Parsigian said his client appeared to be adjusting well to life in the outside world "There was much more anxiety before the actual day than on the actual day," the lawyer said.

He added that when Richey put on civilian clothes, he seemed to transform into a normal person.

He said many people can seem "cold and distant" after so many years locked away, but that for Richey the opposite seemed true.

His solicitor Ken Parsigian added: "He was warm and loving and comfortable with it right away."


MIXED MESSAGES ONLINE FOR FREED SCOT

THE release of Kenny Richey has led to heated debate on the Evening News website.

Readers logged in from across the world to give their view on the 43-year-old's imminent return to Edinburgh.

While many welcomed his freedom, others condemned the decision and the £50,000 deal he has reportedly signed to sell his story to the media.

Morris, from Edinburgh, wrote: "Irrespective of whether you believe he is guilty or innocent of any crime, the fact is this man has served 20 years of his life for something he may not be guilty of! Why don't you leave the guy al

one and let him enjoy what life he does have."

Lisa Sullivan, Saint Paul, Minnesota, logged on to write: "People, we need to hit our knees and thank God for the release of an innocent man. Well done to his lawyers, Karen Torley and to Kenny!"

John Blackley, Austin, Texas, added: "I've seen enough egregious miscarriages of justice to be very careful of the 'well, if a jury convicted him then he must be guilty' reaction. Simply put, I don't know if the guy's innocent or guilty."

However, many comments were less supportive.

Silence of the Yams wrote: "The media cash register is an unsavoury one. He remains a convicted criminal."

Dragonhead, Dalian, China, said: "Were he innocent and have any integrity at all, he would be still in jail, fighting for his freedom, with no 'plea bargain'."

Abracadabra, added: "Another criminal parasite to become a drain on the health service."