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More than 50 protesters gathered in Newry, Ireland today to demand the release of Gabriel Mackle, an Irish Republican political activist held without charge or trial in the north of Ireland’s notorious Maghaberry Gaol.

Gabriel, a former Republican POW, was arrested at his home on the 9th of November by the north of Ireland’s paramilitary style police-force, the PSNI.

Having only finished serving a sentence for Republican activity three months beforehand, Gabriel once again found himself back in Maghaberry, a prison that has drawn international condemnation for its human rights abuses.

No fresh charges have been forward in Gabriel’s case, effectively meaning that there will be no trial and ultimately no idea of a release date.

The protest, organised by Republican Sinn Féin, gathered along Monaghan Street, Newry’s main thoroughfare, shortly after 1PM.

Placards demanding Gabriel’s release featured prominently, and leaflets detailing his case were handed out amongst the public. Placards relating to Liam Campbell, an Irish Republican facing extradition to Lithuania by the 26 County Administration in relation to an alleged arms importation plot, also featured on the protest.

With Newry being a staunchly Republican city, the protest was very well-received by passers-by and the general public.

It concluded shortly after 2PM with several short speeches regarding Gabriel’s case, the historic use of internment in the north of Ireland, and messages of solidarity for Tony Taylor and Neil Hegarty, two Republican prisoners also held under similar circumstances to Gabriel.