Ahern under pressure over Colombia Three

Paul O’Brien

Ambassador to Mexico, Art Agnew, in charge of diplomatic representation for Colombia, will travel to Bogota to set out the ‘Irish legal and political context’ of the case to the Colombian government.

Following their meeting with Mr Ahern his officials briefed the British and US embassies.

The US says the Irish and Colombian governments ‘must’ pursue the case, while Britain stresses the three men will be arrested if they cross the Border into the North.

But the Government’s own position seemed less than clear because of the legal uncertainties involved.

The Taoiseach admits the men’s return gave rise “to a number of issues” that must be addressed.

“We must be calm and clear-headed in how we deal with this matter and how we debate it,” he said.

But Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called on the Taoiseach and the Government to ‘clarify their attitude’ towards the reappearance of the three men.

“We cannot afford to have an international perception that we are a haven for international terrorists of any description,” he said.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey said Mr Ahern must find a way to have them must find a way to have them extradited.

But whether the State can extradite them to serve their 17-year prison sentences for training FARC guerrillas remains to be seen.

Similarly, it is unclear if the gardaí will investigate whether the men committed offences under Irish law by travelling on false passports. Mr Ahern said any question of a breach of Irish law was a matter for the gardaí and the DPP.

Mr Ahern said Ireland would consider a request from the Colombian government for extradition.

But he pointed out that Ireland has no extradition treaty with Colombia, which legal experts predict means the men are unlikely to be sent back.

Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos Calderon told RTÉ radio the trio should be imprisoned. “The least we expect from the Irish Government is they either pay their sentence in Irish jails or that they be extradited,” he said.