Derry republican prisoner Tony Taylor who is languishing behind bars
SINN Féin National Chairperson and South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney has strongly criticised the decision of the Parole Commissioners that Tony Taylor should continue to be detained in Maghaberry prison.
Last night, a protest was held at Free Derry Corner over his continued incarceration without any charge being put to him at a fresh court hearing.
Among those who attended was his wife Lorriaine who has been campaigning for his immediate release.
The 48-year-old was returned to prison in March 2016, on the orders of the then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.
It followed a top secret briefing to her by the head of MI5 in the North of Ireland.
NIO securocrats said his licence was revoked by the Parole Commission because of the risk he posed to the public.
Tony Taylor was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1994 after he was seriously injured in a premature explosion in Derry.
The PIRA inmate was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
He had been in prison since August 2011 while awaiting trial for possessing a semi-automatic 597 Magnum rifle.
He took part in a so-called “dirty protest” while in jail.
The former Ulsterbus driver pleaded guilty in 2014 and at Belfast Crown Court he was sentenced to three years in custody, and four on licence.
By that stage, he had already been in jail for almost three years.
Speaking of Tony Taylor’s continued incarceration, Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney said: “The decision to deny parole to Tony Taylor arising from hearings at Laganside Court, Belfast in recent weeks is a denial of justice and due process.
“No evidence was submitted to justify his continued detention in Maghaberry prison.
“The quasi judicial process which occurred was a travesty and has acted in subordination to the political primacy of the NIO.
“The refusal to release Tony Taylor raises very serious concerns about political interference in the criminal justice system in the North.
“Tony Taylor’s detention continues to be wrong and is a violation of his human rights. He should be released immediately.
“I will be making very robust representations to the NIO regarding this decision and its deeply negative implications for the justice system in the North,” added Mr Kearney,