The Democratic Unionist Party has slammed the appearance of the so-called Colombia Three at Sinn Féin's ard fheis in Dublin over the weekend.

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.

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

THE Progressive Democrats were yesterday accused of backing down from their proposal that the so-called Colombia Three be made serve their prison sentences in Ireland.

EVEN though many people might like to know what Martin McCauley, Niall Connolly and James Monaghan were doing in Colombia, it should be recalled that, at their first trial, they were found not guilty.

THE Colombian government was assured their request to extradite three Sinn Féin members from Ireland would be given full consideration by the Attorney General (AG) and the Department of Justice yesterday.

COLOMBIA has officially applied for the extradition of the three Sinn Féin members who fled the country after they were convicted of helping anti-government forces.

The Government is reportedly examining an extradition request from the Colombian authorities in relation to the three Irishmen convicted of training anti-government rebels in the South American country.

The Government has received documentation from the Colombian authorities relating to three Irishmen convicted of training left wing rebels in the south American country, it emerged tonight.

The Colombian authorities have reportedly lodged a formal request for the extradition of the three Irishmen convicted of training anti-government rebels in the South American country.

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.

Two senior gardaí are due to travel to South America today as part of their efforts to build a case against the so-called Colombia Three.

A unionist leader in the North invited Colombian terror victims to visit Ireland to lobby for the extradition of three IRA-linked men convicted of training Marxist rebels in bomb-making techniques.

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.

The Gardaí are reportedly planning to send two officers to South America this week as part of their investigations into the so-called Colombia Three.

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

A LEADING legal expert yesterday accused Justice Minister Michael McDowell of interfering in the garda investigation into the Colombia Three.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has insisted that gardaí will be travelling to South America as part of investigations into the Colombia Three.

Gardaí are expected to travel to Colombia as part of their investigation into three Irishmen convicted of training rebels there, it emerged tonight.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday said the Colombia Three “may well” be extradited back to Colombia.

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.

Shaun Connolly, Political Correspondent

Shaun Connolly, Political Correspondent

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has reiterated the Government's position that the fate of the Colombia Three is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The three Irishmen convicted of training anti-government rebels in Colombia have all been released without charge by gardaí in Dublin.

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.

GARDAÍ are to consider sending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to at least one of the Colombia Three, it emerged last night.

The three men convicted of training rebels in Colombia should be allowed to live in peace after completing garda interviews, it was claimed tonight.

Gardaí in Dublin have revealed that they are currently interviewing the so-called Colombia Three at different stations in the city.

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.

I DON’T know what the penalty is for travelling into this country on a false passport, but it must be considerably better than 17 years in a Colombian jail.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has called on the Government to make moves to have the Colombia Three jailed in Ireland.

The Government has once again insisted that no behind-the-scenes deal was done with the Columbia Three relating to their surprise return to Ireland.

THE Government last night insisted a proposal to enable the Colombia Three to serve their sentences here was feasible despite predictions the measure would never stand up in court.

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.

Dan McGinn and Kieran McDaid

The Irish Government was tonight awaiting an official request to extradite three Irishmen convicted of training rebels back to Colombia.

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

European Union chiefs were today urged to put the Irish Government to the test over its attitude towards terrorism.

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

REPORTS that the Colombia Three have been in Ireland and under garda surveillance since March are completely false, Government sources insisted last night.