Govt urged to send observer to Colombia trial

Relatives of three Irishmen held in Colombia on suspicion of aiding FARC Marxist guerillas tonight urged the Government to send a legal observer to the men’s trial next month.

The families of Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and Jim Monaghan also highlighted their disappointment at the withdrawal of three politicians from a delegation due attend the court proceedings in Bogota, the capital of the South American State.

They said Foreign Minister Brian Cowen should appoint a legal observer to act on behalf of the Irish government.

The families claimed Fianna Fail's John Curran, Labour's Joe Costello and Fine Gael's Paul Bradford had pulled out of the Bogota-bound delegation in response to pressure exerted by some of their colleagues.

An originally six-strong parliamentary team, due to visit the men in custody, examine the current situation in Colombia and observe the trial, has now been halved.

The families, who have repeatedly raised concerns over the prospects of a fair trial and for the safety of the men, who are currently being held in Bogota’s El Modelo prison, said they had asked the delegation to see the men purely on humanitarian grounds, and in their capacity as public representatives.

The three men have been held by Colombian authorities for fifteen months and are being tried for travelling on false passports and training members of the left-wing FARC militia.

A leading member of the campaign supporting the trio, also criticised the three policiticians who have opted out of the delegation tonight.

Caitriona Ruane, of the Bring Them Home group, said elements of the Government had demonstrated their unwillingness to stand up for the rights of Irish citizens abroad