DISSIDENT republican political group Saoradh has welcomed the release of internee Neil Hegarty.
Neil was interned on December 6th 2017 by the British Direct Ruler a matter of hours after being released from five years incarceration in Maghaberry.
He was released from the Co Antrim high security jail on Monday, February 19 after more than two months behind bars again.
Saoradh say in a statement: “Since then Saoradh, Éistigí and IRPWA activists have continually highlighted Neil’s ordeal and demanded his release.
“His release should in no way deflect from the vindictive and arbitrary way in which he was interned, or the cases of other ongoing similar examples.
“To our comrade Neil Hegarty we say welcome home to your family and community.”
Police stopped a car at Westway in the Creggan area on the evening of December 6, 2012.
During a search of the vehicle, officers found a holdall containing a home-made Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP).
Police believe this item was intended to be used in a dissident republican terrorist attack.
Car driver Jason Ceulemans (41), of Coshowen, passengers Damien Harkin (48) of Westland Avenue, and Hegarty (52) from Benevenagh Gardens were all sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession of explosives and 4 years imprisonment for possession of items for use in terrorism.
Both sentences were are to run concurrently.
When their car was stopped, all three men were dressed in dark clothing;
Harkin and Hegarty were wearing two pairs of gloves, one over the top of the other.
