Jim Monaghan (in Letters to the Editor, August 14) draws parallels between the Northern Ireland situation and that of Gaza, implying that — like the IRA — Hamas is merely fighting for the rights of its people.

Shane O’Doherty in his letter “We must condemn Hamas as we did the paramilitaries” (August 9) makes parallels with the IRA campaign and Hamas in Palestine. 

Over the past few months we have witnessed a repeat of a now familiar process of regime change.

A convicted Basque terrorist who fled to the North from Spain will appear in court today to face extradition proceedings.

A DUBLIN woman who was taking large amounts of over-the-counter prescription drugs built up a lethal level of codeine in her blood in the hours and days before she died, an inquest heard yesterday.

THE Colombian government appears to have given up its pursuit of the so-called Colombia Three.

The men wanted by Colombia have kept a low profile since their much-hyped return, writes Colm Heatley.

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams insisted that republicans had turned their back on violence for good as he used his Árd Fheis address to focus on the next Dáil election battle.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will use today’s Ard Fheis address to declare power-sharing and party advancement as his main priorities for 2006.

The Easter Parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising will exclude all citizens from taking part, it was claimed tonight.

Fine Gael is reportedly calling on the Government to clarify the status of the extradition request for the so-called Colombia Three.

THE Colombia Three issue must not cause difficulties in relations between Ireland and America, US envoy on Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss said yesterday.

The Colombia Three issue must not cause difficulties in relations between Ireland and the US, it was claimed today.

GARDAÍ travelling to Colombia should be able to use evidence gathered by police there to pursue their investigations here into the Colombia Three, a leading legal expert said yesterday.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley is due to meet the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, early next week to discuss issues surrounding the Colombia Three.

The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has accused the so-called Colombia Three of travelling to the South American country "to advance terrorism".

The Colombian government has said it is determined to secure the extradition of the three Irishmen convicted of training anti-government rebels in the South American country.

THE decision of the Colombia Three to voluntarily give themselves up to the gardaí for questioning is a welcome twist in this long-running saga.

THE Government yesterday described as "very positive" a meeting between one of its ambassadors and senior politicians in Bogota to discuss the Colombia Three case.

SO THERE we were, one week after the historic IRA stand-down, anticipating an act of decommissioning any second and what happens? Up pops Jim Monaghan with Charlie Bird on the six o’clock news.

The Government is considering using Irish legislation to allow the Colombia Three to serve their prison sentences in Ireland, it emerged tonight.

The Democratic Unionist Party has demanded that the Irish Government ensure the Colombia Three are returned to Bogota to serve their prison sentences.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has cut-short his holiday in Kerry and returned to Dublin to meet foreign officials regarding the Colombia Three.

The extradition of the three Irishmen convicted of training anti-government rebels in Colombia is reportedly unlikely to ever take place.

Since it emerged that the so-called Colombia Three are back in this country, there has been a near-hysterical reaction as to the implications for the Good Friday Agreement.

The re-emergence of the Colombia Three in Ireland will not cause a crisis in the Northern Ireland peace process, it was claimed today.

The Taoiseach has denied any deal involving the Columbia Three was done in return for the IRA's decision to end its war.

Three men wanted by Colombian authorities for training Marxist rebels may have plunged the Northern Ireland peace process into new difficulties by resurfacing in the Irish Republic, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned tonight.

Dan Buckley traces the arrest and detention of the men who became known as the Colombia Three.

“I’M back, and I would hope that I’ll be left in peace.”

THE GOVERNMENT last night denied the return of the Colombia Three was part of any deal with Sinn Féin, after they arrived home within a week of last Thursday’s IRA statement.

SUSPICION of a secret deal between the Government and Sinn Féin on the return of the Colombia Three persisted last night, despite outright denials from both sides.

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, has claimed the lives of the Columbia Three are in grave danger.

Colombia's Attorney General has filed an appeal against last month's acquittal of three Irishmen who had been accused of teaching bomb-making to the Marxist FARC rebels.

THREE Irishmen acquitted of training left-wing Colombian rebels yesterday could be detained indefinitely in South American until an appeal is heard.

A verdict in the trial of the three Irish republicans accused of training anti-government rebels in Colombia is reportedly due to be delivered in the coming days.

Irish MEP Niall Andrews has reiterated his call for a speedy ruling in the trial of three Irishmen accused of training anti-government rebels in Colombia.

The Government is being asked to use its presidency of the EU as an opportunity to ensure three Irishmen being held in Colombia are returned home.

THREE men accused of training terrorists will make their first appearance in court in Columbia today.

The trial of three Irishmen accused of training FARC guerrillas resumes today.

OBSERVERS from three continents are expected to attend the controversial trial of three Irishmen accused of training FARC rebels in Colombia which is due to resume in the capital, Bogota, today.

The judge in the trial of the Colombia Three has rejected defence evidence which appeared to exonerate two of the three Irishmen charged with training anti-government rebels in the Colombian jungle.

The trial of the 'Colombia Three' has resumed in the country's capital, Bogota.

A SENIOR Irish diplomat is set to take the witness stand in the Colombian trial of three Irishmen accused of helping to train left wing guerrillas in the use of mortars.

Ministers were today urged to “stand up for Irish rights” by sending a legal observer to the Colombian trial of three Irish men accused of training left-wing rebels.

Campaigners for three Irishmen accused in Colombia of training Marxist Farc rebels have more video tapes casting doubt on the case against them, it was claimed today.

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen, has said it is unlikely that he will intervene in the trial of the three Irishmen accused of training FARC rebels in Colombia.

The three Irishmen charged with training FARC rebels in Colombia have been ordered back to a notorious jail in the capital, Bogota, while the court decides their fate.

Fianna Fail Senator Mary White and Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe are due to travel to Colombia next Tuesday to observe the trial of the three Irishmen accused of training anti-government rebels.

Relatives of three Irishmen held in Colombia on suspicion of aiding FARC Marxist guerillas tonight urged the Government to send a legal observer to the men’s trial next month.