Release Tony Taylor Immediately

Political Prisoner, Tony Taylor

Tony Taylor is a life-long Irish Republican from Derry and was arrested and in the early Nineties after an explosion in his native city which left him badly injured. He lost his spleen, a kidney and had shrapnel lodged in his body. In spite of these injuries, Tony was given a lengthy prison sentence in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. 

After his release, Tony found love and was married, he and his wife were blessed with three lovely children. Sadly, one of their kids had special needs and Tony devoted most of his time to his growing family. He also continued his political involvement but eventually left Provisional Sinn Fein after it's Leadership sought support from it's members to endorse the RUC/PSNI. Like hundreds of others, Tony felt Republicans had made too many compromises and felt enough was enough.

Tony joined others and helped create; Concerned Republicans and Ex-POWs Against the RUC and MI5. That lobbied against Republican endorsement of the unchanged RUC. With a number of other Republicans across the country, the group was renamed the; Republican Network for Unity. RNU became a campaigning pressure group and Tony was influential in it's development. He was soon elected onto it's Executive or Ard Chomhairle and generated much support for it's fledgling POW Department. Last year, Tony spearheaded it's name change to Cogus, which means conscience. As he felt strongly that Political Prisoners were the conscience of RNU. He actively worked on behalf of Political Prisoners and highlighted their concerns to anyone who would listen.

Last August, Tony was again and imprisoned. Since then, he has been held in Maghaberry Gaol in County Down. Prior to his arrest, Republican Prisoners inside the Gaol had embarked on protest action to secure better living standards, refused to them by a cruel and uncaring Regime. Only a year before, the Prisoners, Prison Administation, Stormont's Justice Department and overseen by Independent Facilitators all signed an agreement that would end years of trouble and strife in the Gaol surrounding lengthy Lock-Up's, Strip-Searching and Controlled-Movement. Within weeks however, the Agreement was practically binned by the Regime and the sinister activities used against Political Prisoners continued unabated. Despite this, most Republican Prisoners attempted to support the Agreement and they did so until six months ago. When they decided to resume protest action, including a Dirty Protest. 

Tony entered Maghaberry knowing the situation behind bars and what he as a Republican faced in Roe House. He immediately attempted to negotiate with his fellow prisoners and of course the Prison Administration seeking a resolution. However, every obstacle was placed in his way and he had little option but join his comrades on the protest. For the past six months, Tony and the other 35 Political Prisoners have endured a brutal existence, many spreading excrement on their cell walls. Tony's previous experiences inside have helped him cope a little better than most. However, his injuries have caused him endless suffering. He, his Doctor and his family suspect he now has septic arthritis, which could also poison his blood.

Last week Tony was taken to a Belfast hospital for treatment, although his family were not informed of the move. His Wife Lorraine told the Derry Journal; 'Tony has been taken to hospital by prison staff and on no occasion did anyone let me know. They have a duty to let me know, yet I hear nothing. They wouldn’t even tell me which hospital he is in. Tony never complains. I notice through the visits how weak he is becoming, the weight is falling off him and he can’t even nurse my youngest child on his knee during visits anymore. He always rings me around 4.30pm every day and when he doesn’t phone I know there is something up. It was another prisoner’s wife who told me that Tony had been taken into hospital. He always puts on a brave face for us, for the children, but it’s heartbreaking when I look at him because I’m thinking to myself  he’s going to die in there. This has been the hardest six months ever, I cry all the time'.

As a friend and comrade of Tony Taylor, it's very hard to read his wife's heartfelt words....I'm also a former Political Prisoner and know how hard it is to be separated from your family and forced to live under a difficult prison regime. RNU and a number of other support groups on the outside have been trying the prisoners in Roe House and of their families. Predictably, the Administration, Stormont and Political Parties including Provisional Sinn Fein are hoping that the prisoners give up their protest then the Media and Republican groups will stop pestering them for a resolution. However, Republican Prisoners have always campaigned for better conditions inside prisons.

In the case of Tony Taylor, he should be released immediately so that he can get proper medical treatment and return to his family. There is nothing to be gained by continuing Tony's incarceration and the Courts could release him on bail tomorrow.