McGuinness calls on Brokenshire to release Tony Taylor

Mr McGuinness said he will be raising the imprisonment of Mr Taylor with Mr Brokenshire at the first opportunity.

“Tony Taylor was returned to prison on the word of previous British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers without any evidence being presented.

“The arrest and imprisonment without recourse to due process is a practice that is totally unacceptable and needs to end immediately.

“I will be raising the issue with new British Secretary of State James Brokenshire and demanding that Tony Taylor is either released immediately or brought before a court and given due process,” said Mr McGuinness.

Lawyers for the Republican Network for Unity member have argued that the order to return Mr Taylor to prison was “outwith or beyond the relevant law” and have described his imprisonment as “internment in all but name.”