Veteran peace campaigner Mairead Maguire has spoken of her joy at returning home to Northern Ireland following a week in Israeli captivity.

Mrs Maguire, who co-founded the Peace People movement in the 1970s, flew into Dublin on Tuesday night. She was held for over a week by the Israeli authorities after the aid boat on which she was travelling to Gaza was boarded by troops in the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking from her Co Down home Mrs Maguire said she was “absolutely delighted” to be back in Northern Ireland and would not be stopped from trying to help Palestinian people living in the blockaded Gaza area.

“It was very traumatic, I’m glad to be back because we were in a very dangerous situation on that boat,” she said. “It was a 37-hour journey during which I was violently sick. I had to have intravenous injections because I had vomited so much.”

At one stage Mrs Maguire was held for several days in a prison cell with five other women who were also awaiting deportation.

“There was great kindness and solidarity among all the woman, one of whom lent me clothes because I didn’t have any. While in prison I prayed and fasted for five days.”

Also being held alongside Mrs Maguire were six Britons, as well as journalists from the Middle East.

“We were most concerned about five activists from Bahrain because there are no diplomatic relationships between that country and Israel, so we didn’t know how they were going to be deported,” said Mrs Maguire. “They put them out through Cyprus — the King of Bahrain sent a private jet and they were given a heroes’ welcome.”

Mrs Maguire and fellow Irish campaigner Derek Graham were the last of the 21-strong party to leave Israel on Tuesday.

She said: “I have been deported now for 10 years. When I reflect on it, my case is much easier than those Palestinians who cannot go back to visit their families.

“When you look at Gaza it is like a huge prison, completely cut off from the world, with many basic needs being denied.”

Mrs Maguire said she would be appealing her deportation and seeking legal advice on the matter.

“We were not a threat to anyone, so for them to behave the way they did was scandalous. I believe what Israel did to 21 unarmed humanitarian workers was quite criminal.”

Above: Mairead Maguire talks to Al Jazeera from Israeli jail ^{4 Jul 09}