Irishman charged with terrorist activities in Colombia

Colombian prosecutors have charged one of the three IRA suspects arrested in the state capital Bogota with terrorist activities and falsifying documents.

36-year-old Niall Connolly, originally from Glenageary, Co Dublin, was travelling under the pseudonym of David Bracken.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Police are continuing to question the two other men picked up in the same swoop.

They have been identified as 38-year-old Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, whose age is not yet known.

Colombian authorities are expected to liaise with Gardai after it was confirmed all three men are from the Republic.

The men are believed to be senior figures within the IRA, as opposed to dissidents.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has insisted the arrests should have no impact on the peace process and said the party has no knowledge of what the men were doing in South America.