Colombia Three supporters rule out plans for domestic appeal

SUPPORTERS of three fugitive Irishmen facing 17 years in a Colombian jail yesterday ruled out attempting to appeal the decision domestically.

Catriona Ruane, speaking ahead of a press conference in Bogota, said it is not an option because the process could take three to six years.

Ms Ruane made the comments without speaking to the three men, Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley.

She claimed that neither the men’s lawyers nor their families have been in contact with them for more than six months since they left prison following their initial acquittal for training left-wing guerrillas.

Ms Ruane, a Sinn Féin assembly member in the North, and fellow MLA Gerry Kelly flew to Colombia on Sunday and consulted with the men’s lawyers yesterday. Supporters have described the ruling as “political and farcical”.

Interpol is understood to have issued a formal arrest warrant for the three men after they failed to surface following last week’s successful appeal against the acquittal. Three judges overturned the original verdict and sentenced them to 17 years in prison. Colombian authorities have vowed to do everything possible to make sure the three serve their sentences.

The whereabouts of the three men is not clear, though it is claimed they left Colombia some time ago, possibly fleeing to neighbouring Venezuela. Ms Ruane said she has no idea where the three men are. “The last time I saw the men was the morning we took them out of the jail. . . I don’t know what their next move is going to be.”

Before the three went into hiding after leaving the La Modelo prison, they discussed their legal options with the lawyers, whom she described as among the best criminal defenders in the country.

While the lawyers have discussed the various domestic legal moves open to the trio, they are not really options, said Ms Ruane.

All of them, including an appeal against the conviction, will take three to six years, she claimed, suggesting that the three were not prepared to willingly spend that length of time in a Colombian jail.

A more likely option is that an international campaign will be launched and that the three men will remain in hiding while that continues. Ms Ruane said the men’s case will be taken to international fora, including the European Parliament.

Government legal representatives are to study the 120-page appeal court judgment, after it is delivered here and translated.

Ms Ruane ruled out linking the Colombia Three with the Northern peace process and the issue of “on the runs”, fugitive IRA men who are likely to be given an amnesty under any final agreement.

One “on the run”, wanted in connection with the death of Garda Jerry McCabe and living in Venezuela, is reported to have helped the three men flee Colombia.