Campaigners for the release of three Irishmen detained in Colombia were tonight hopeful that the prisoners could be back in Ireland soon.

The Government was today urged to continue putting pressure on the Colombian authorities to free the three Irish men in prison there.

The Government must keep the pressure on Colombia’s President to respond within 10 days to its request that the case of three Irishmen be speeded up, campaigners insisted today.

The Colombian President has promised Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to look into speeding up the case of three Irishmen detained in his country, it emerged today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has called on the authorities in Colombia to permit the return to Ireland of three men who have been aquitted on charges of training Farc guerillas in the South American state.

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

Sinn Fein today demanded the resignation of Colombia’s Prosecutor General after he claimed there was considerable evidence linking three Irishmen to left-wing rebels in the country.