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.

A lawyer for three Irishmen accused of helping Colombian rebels has accused a key prosecution witness of lying.

Three alleged IRA members - due to go on trial in Colombia today charged with training anti-government rebels in bomb-making techniques - have refused to leave their cells.

Three alleged IRA members were due to go on trial in Colombia today charged with training anti-government rebels in bomb-making techniques.

Two suspected IRA members and another man linked to the group, who are accused of giving terror training to Colombian rebels, will have their futures determined by a judge today.

A judge was today due to decide whether three IRA suspects accused of training guerrillas in Colombia should stand trial.

Two suspected IRA members and another man linked to the group who allegedly trained Colombian rebels in terrorist tactics cannot get a fair trial, their lawyers said tonight.

Three IRA suspects accused of training Colombian guerrillas were due to go on trial tomorrow in a case which could put huge new pressure on the Northern Ireland peace process.

THE trial of the so-called Colombia Three, due to start this Friday, will be closely monitored by the main players in the North’s political process.

We, as families of three Irish citizens incarcerated in Colombia, wish to highlight the fact that they have now been held for 12 months without trial.