A decision on whether or not Tony Taylor, republican activist from Derry, will have to remain in prison is expected this week, following recent two-day hearing in Belfast into his ongoing internment by the State.
It was back in 2016 (March 10th) Tony was returned to prison on the instructions of the then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers. At the time the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) at Stormont said his licence was revoked by the Parole Commission because of the risk he posed to the public.
Tony Taylor was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1994 after he was seriously injured in a premature explosion in the city however he was later released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. In 2011, he was then 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.
A two-day hearing took place at Belfast last week to decide whether or not the father-of-three should be released from prison. However, despite objections Tony’s legal team were excluded from hearing evidence against him, which was heard in a closed session.
It is understood that decision in the case will be made this coming Wednesday, 7th June 2017.
Irish News Article
Derry Journal Article
Free Tony Taylor Campaign Website
Derry Anarchist Black Cross 