A proposal by Sinn Féin at last night's meeting of Derry City Council calling on Northern Secretary Peter Hain to immediately release Shankill bomber Seán Kelly from prison, was defeated by a combination of SDLP and Unionist votes.
Kelly, who was given nine life sentences for the murder of nine people in an IRA bomb attack in 1993, was freed on licence five years ago under the Good Friday agreement.
However, his licence was revoked by Mr Hain who claimed that Kelly had broken the terms and he was returned to Magha-berry prison last month.
Describing Kelly's rearrest as "arbitrary internment", Sinn Féin councillor Paul Fleming said no charges had been brought against Kelly nor had any information been given about the reason for his arrest.