Lawyers for three Irish men who were convicted of using false passports said today they won’t pay a fine to free the men from prison until Colombian authorities provide them with protection.

Three Irishmen accused of training Colombian guerillas will appeal against any conviction, their legal representatives confirmed today.

THREE Irishmen who have spent nearly two-and-a-half years in jail in Colombia must wait at least another two months before a judge rules on whether they are guilty of training left-wing rebels in the South American country.

THE IRA is linked to two detailed explosive manuals found in the possession of Marxist rebels in Colombia, a army major yesterday told the trial of three alleged IRA men accused of training the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Two politicians tonight withdrew from a visit to the trial of three Irish men arrested in Colombia on suspicion of training FARC guerillas.

Members of the Daíl should not attend the trial of three Irish men arrested in Colombia on suspicion of collaborating with Farc guerillas, it was claimed today.

LABOUR'S Joe Costello will not accompany an Oireachtas delegation visiting the Colombia Three following objections from within his party.

The group campaigning for the release of the three Irishmen being held in Colombia has expressed fresh concerns for the men’s safety.