Sinn Féin again calls for the release of Tony Taylor

SOUTH ANTRIM MLA and Sinn Féin National Chairperson, Declan Kearney, has repeated his party’s call for the immediate release of Derryman Tony Taylor.

Speaking in Belfast, Declan Kearney said:

“It is one year since Tony Taylor’s arrest and detention in Maghaberry Prison at the behest of the previous British Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, without having been charged, questioned or allowed legal representation.

“Sinn Féin has consistently stated that if evidence exists to show that Tony Taylor is a risk to the public it should be put before him and his legal team in open court so this can be challenged.

“In the course of the past year, no evidence has been produced which could in any way justify his continued detention, nor indeed his arrest a year ago today.

“His detention in this way fuels the perception of a form of legalised interment by remand. It is a violation of fundamental human rights and subversion of due process.

“Sinn Féin has continued to raise this matter with the British Secretary of State and will do so again.

“The detention of Tony Taylor is unjust and indefensible.

“He should be released immediately.”

● Leading Sinn Féin figures Martin McGuinness and Raymond McCartney have previously raised the case of Tony Taylor with the British Government and called for his immediate release.