Fine Gael attack Adams over refusal to attend hearing

Fine Gael's John Bruton has attacked Gerry Adams over his refusal to attend the US congressional hearing in Washington.

Bruton says, "I feel that Gerry Adams has actually done harm to the Irish men who have been detained in Colombia because a co-operative attitude on the part of Sinn Fein to the US Congressional hearing would have shown good will to those people and been to their benefit."

Adams announced earlier today that he will not attend a congressional hearing on links between republicans and Colombian rebels.

In a letter to the chairman of the US House of Representatives International Relations Committee, the Sinn Fein leader says he is not going to attend the hearings because of legal concerns.

US congressmen had wanted to question Mr Adams about the arrests in Colombia last August of three Irishmen - Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley.

In a four-page letter to Congressman Henry Hyde, Mr Adams said: "I am concerned that my attendance at the International Relations Hearing may impact on due legal process in Colombia."

The three Irishmen are currently awaiting trial in Colombia for travelling on false passports and for allegedly training Marxist Farc rebels.

Mr Adams said in his letter he appreciated the work of the US House of Representatives' international relations committee and its right to hold hearings on any issues relevant to American national interest.