The parents of Bobby Sands came out in support of jailed Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt yesterday (Thursday).
Although the couple have rarely courted publicity, a sister of Bobby Sands said her parents were the "driving force" behind the campaign to free McKevitt.
He was convicted by the Republic's Special Criminal Court in August 2003 of directing terrorism as the leader of the Real IRA and given a 20 year sentence. McKevitt had earlier been a senior member of the Provisional IRA.
At an event called 'Human Rights Forum' in west Belfast, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, McKevitt's wife, said her parents were determined to see her husband released.
"Their support has been fantastic," she said.
"They have been the main instigators of this campaign."
The family believe McKevitt was "deliberately framed" by MI5, the FBI and Gardai.
Mrs Sands McKevitt said her husband expressed some concerns that the campaign for his release would place his family into the media spotlight.
"Both the Sands and the McKevitts are very private families," she said.
"But Michael is fully behind the campaign."
Mrs Sands McKevitt said she had already contacted human rights organisations in Europe to complain about her husband's trial.
And she said she was angry his name was still linked to the 1998 Omagh bombing.
"Neither Michael nor I were ever questioned about Omagh," she said.
