Detention of Colombia three ‘Internment by remand’

The detention of three Irish men in Colombia, whose trial date has been set for October, has been described as nothing short of internment by remand.

Niall Connolly, Martin McAuley and Jim Monaghan were arrested last August for training FARC rebels and have been waiting almost a year for a trial date to be set.

Any alleged links with the IRA have been denied. Catriona Ruane of the "Bring Them Home Campaign" group, says the media controversy surrounding the men and the no-jury trail will seriously jeopardise a fair hearing for the men.

"The whole legal system and the way the three men have been treated to date would suggest they are not going to be given a fair trial.

"We are trying to encourage a situation where international observers would be sent to the trial."