Irish diplomat called as a witness in Colombian trial

A SENIOR Irish diplomat is set to take the witness stand in the Colombian trial of three Irishmen accused of helping to train left wing guerrillas in the use of mortars.

Sile Maguire, of the Irish Embassy in Mexico, has agreed to take the stand after defence lawyers for Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and Jim Monaghan indicated they wanted to call her as a witness. The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed Ms Maguire has agreed and will be one of a number of witnesses due to be called by the defence after the trial resumes tomorrow.

Others include forensic expert Dr Keith Borer, aid worker Ros O’Sullivan, former republican prisoner Laurence McKeown and the producers of a video one of the accused, Mr Monaghan, allegedly shot in Belfast on a date when he was supposed to have been in Colombia.