Adams urged to shun US IRA-Colombia hearing

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is under pressure from party members to turn down an invitation to testify this week at a US Congressional hearing on republican links to Colombian rebels, it was claimed tonight.

As the MP prepared for a meeting of Sinn Fein leaders in Belfast to consider his move, republican sources said there was a ‘‘strong lobby’’ within the party urging him not to go to Washington on Wednesday in case the hearings would prejudice the trial of three Irishmen arrested in Colombia last year.

The House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee is keen to question Mr Adams on links between republicans and the FARC militia following the arrests of Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan in Colombia last August on suspicion of training Marxist rebels.

With Mr Adams’ due to discuss the invitation to Washington with Stormont minister Martin McGuinness, party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin and other leadership figures, the source said:

‘‘There is a very strong lobby within the party which is of the view that these hearings in Washington could be prejudicial to the men’s trial in Colombia.

‘‘Many people are of the view that we cannot ignore what the families of the three men, their lawyers and campaigners are saying.

‘‘They have concerns about the prejudicial nature of anything that might be said in the hearings.’’

A Sinn Fein source expected the party leadership to reach its decision tonight on whether Mr Adams should fly to Washington to give evidence.

However, the party may not disclose its decision until tomorrow.

Meanwhile campaigners on behalf of the three Irish republicans in Colombia today renewed their criticism of the US hearings under the chairmanship of veteran Republican Party Congressman Henry Hyde.

Catriona Ruane, a spokeswoman for the Bring Them Home Campaign, said they were urging the Sinn Fein leader not to attend the Capitol Hill committee hearing ‘‘in the interests of a fair trial.

‘‘A major problem in relation to this is that the three men’s defence will have no opportunity to come along and dispute anything said or cross examine the people giving testimony,’’ she said.

‘‘Therefore anything said is taken as evidence against them when in fact it is not.

‘‘This hearing is not a fair process. We cannot even get a copy of the agenda.

‘‘We do not know what is going to be discussed. The title of the hearing has been changed at the last minute.

‘‘Any material presented to the hearing will not be able to be challenged in a court law.’’

Supporters of the three men said they were also concerned that news reports of the US hearings would be published or aired in Colombia.

They argued this could ‘‘influence the outcome of the case’’ against Mr Connolly, Mr McCauley and Mr Monaghan.