"Could someone, anyone, just please tell me, why is my husband in jail?" - Christmas heartbreak for Taylor family

The family of Derry republican prisoner Tony Taylor have said that it will be a 'very rough Christmas' without him.

Mr Taylor's wife Lorraine has written an open letter to Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden and Secretary of State James Brokenshire to ask 'why' her husband is still in jail.

He has been on remand in Maghaberry since March 2016 following the revoking of his licence by then Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.

At the time, the Northern Ireland Office said his licence was revoked by the Parole Commission because of the risk he posed to the public.

Mr Taylor was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 1994 after he was seriously injured in a premature explosion in Derry.

He was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2011 he was sentenced to three years in jail for possession of a rifle. He was released in 2014.

In the letter, Mrs Taylor says her husband woud 'spend Christmas in jail, without either him or us knowing why'.

She said her children will be affected by the loss of their father at Christmas, especially their son Bliain, who is disabled.

"Our two girls are heart sore worrying about their daddy," said Mrs Taylor.

"The biggest loser in all of this is our seriously-disabled son Bliain, who just dotes on his daddy - his main carer."

She said Mr Taylor's parents were of an advanced age and had suffered ill health.

She said ince his last spell in prison Mr Taylor had told her that he would pursue a 'peaceful political agenda'.

She ended the letter by making a direct appeal to those in power.

"Could someone, anyone, just please tell me, why is my husband in jail?"