Northern Ireland

Rally to demand release of Tony Taylor

A march demanding the release from prison of Tony Taylor will take place in Derry on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
A march demanding the release from prison of Tony Taylor will take place in Derry on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin A march demanding the release from prison of Tony Taylor will take place in Derry on Sunday. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE two main nationalist parties have called for support for a rally demanding the release of republican prisoner Tony Taylor.

The march and rally, taking place in Derry this Sunday from the Brandywell to Guildhall Square, has been organised by the Free Tony Taylor Campaign.

Taylor was returned to jail in March last year after then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers revoked his early release licence.

The Derry man was released in 2014 after serving a three-year sentence for possession of a rifle.

He was previously sentenced to 18 years in jail in 1994 for IRA activity.

No formal charges have been laid against him since his re-arrest.

SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan said his continued detention without trial was a clear breach of his civil and human rights.

Sinn Fein assembly member Raymond McCartney also called on people to support the march and rally.

“His continued detention is a violation of fundamental human rights and subversion of due process. It is a form of legalised internment by remand and a denial of natural justice.”