By Gareth Cross
A republican prisoner has thanked the people of Derry for their continued support in campaigning for his release ahead of a rally to be held in the city this weekend.
A rally will be held in Derry this Sunday to protest against a recent court decision to keep Tony Taylor imprisoned and Mr Taylor urged as many people as possible to attend.
The rally will assemble at Brandywell Grotto at 2:30pm and then make its way to Guildhall Square.
The father-of-three was returned to prison in March 2016, on the instructions of the then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said his licence was revoked by the Parole Commission because of the risk he posed to the public.
A two-day hearing took place in Belfast in June to decide whether or not the father-of-three should be released from prison.
The License Review Panel denied Mr Taylor's release.
Mr Taylor was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1994 after he was seriously injured in a premature explosion in Derry.
The Provisional IRA inmate was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
In 2011, he was sentenced to three years behind bars for possession of a rifle in a case that made history by using covert surveillance evidence gathered by a drone.
The 48-year-old is currently detained at Maghaberry Prison.
Speaking to The Derry News ahead of Sunday's rally MrTaylor
"To you the people of Derry and Ireland I once again call on those capable and able to attend this rally on Sunday," he said.
"The event is being organised by the Free Tony Taylor committee and will assemble at 2:30pm at Brandywell Grotto.
"The group will then proceed to make its way to Guildhall Square."
He said the rally was being held to protest the recent decision to keep him in prison.
"We have organised this demonstration in response to the court decision by the License Review Panel to uphold my internment based on an unchallenged and concocted testimony given by an MI5 agent concealed during open court," said Mr Taylor.
"The same MI5 agent continually refused to answer even the most basic questions from my barrister, instead opting to reveal such answers in closed court sessions which myself and my legal team were excluded from attending.
"This farcical and draconian process concocted by the British Government has left myself and my legal team incapable and powerless to see, hear or challenge my accusers and their false testimonies and once again I have been denied due process.
"The hearing concluded with the License Review Panel deciding to keep me interned in Maghaberry after deciding that both the hearing process and the testimony given by the MI5 agent was trustworthy and reliable, information concocted by a shadowy British state organisation with a nefarious reputation in Ireland.
"They are in cahoots with the aim of denying the legal process."
Mr Taylor added: “This is unfortunately what passes for justice in the North of Ireland in 2017.”
"Please utilise this event on Sunday as a platform to deliver a loud and resounding message to the British Government and its agencies involved that you will not tolerate this injustice and will stand strong in opposition to internment."
Mr Taylor's wife Lorraine said that he would now not be eligible to come before the License Review Panel for a full year, despite the norm being six months.
Mrs Taylor confirmed that their legal team were now pursuing the option of a judicial review.
Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin Foyle MLA, Raymond McCartney has called on people to attend the march and rally on Sunday.
"Tony Taylor was returned to prison in Maghaberry Prison at the behest of the previous British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, without having been charged, questioned or allowed legal representation,” Mr McCartney said.
"His continued detention is a violation of fundamental human rights and subversion of due process. It is a form of legalised interment by remand and a denial of natural justice.
“I am calling on everyone who supports human rights to join the march on Sunday assembling at 2.30pm at the Brandywell Grotto.”
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.
