THE wife of jailed republican Tony Taylor has backed an ‘anti-internment’ parade planned for Belfast later in the summer.
Lorraine Taylor spoke at the official launch of the planned Anti-Internment League march in west Belfast.
Organisers say up to 5,000 people and four bands will take part in the parade from west Belfast to the city centre on Sunday, August 7.
They say the annual anti-internment parade is supported by various political organisations, republican prisoner welfare bodies and independent activists.
The parade also marks the 45th anniversary of the introduction of internment in 1971, which saw hundreds of nationalists jailed without charge.
Organisers say the event is designed to highlight internment by remand, “internment via the revocation of licence and internment via miscarriage of justice”.
The parade is expected to highlight the case of the Craigavon Two – Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton – who were convicted of killing PSNI man Stephen Carroll in 2009.
It will also focus on the case of senior Republican Network for Unity representative Tony Taylor who was returned to jail earlier this year after his early release licence was suspended by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.
His wife Lorraine spoke about the impact of his detention on her family.
“It is difficult for me to explain just how we as a family have been traumatised by his arrest and detention,” She said.
“Tony’s continued absence is having a devastating impact on his family.”
Campaigners will also hold a ‘Free Tony Taylor’ rally at Guildhall Square in Derry on August 6.
