Colombia urged to 'stop playing games' with Irishmen

The Colombian government was today urged to stop playing with the lives of three Irishmen acquitted this week of training Marxist rebels.

As Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley waited for word over whether they would be released from La Modelo Prison soon, supporters of the men called for a “comprehensive security plan” from the Colombian authorities to ensure the men’s safe passage home to Ireland.

On Tuesday a judge found the men guilty of travelling on false passports in August 2001 when they were arrested in Colombia.

However, he cleared them of accusations that they trained FARC rebels in terror tactics deployed by republicans in Northern Ireland.

James Monaghan, from Co Donegal, received a 44-month sentence for travelling on a false passport.

Martin McCauley, from Co Armagh, got 36 months and Dubliner Niall Connolly, once Sinn Féin’s representative in Cuba, 26 months.

The Colombian Attorney General is expected to appeal against the ruling.

Sinn Féin Assembly member Caitriona Ruane, who has headed the Bring Them Home Campaign on behalf of the men, today renewed calls in Bogota for the men’s release from La Modelo Prison.

The South Down MLA insisted: “There is no safe place for these men in Colombia.

“The legal process is slow and bureaucratic.

“We cannot accept a situation where the men are in this country upon release for any length of time.

"This is not an option.”

The Bring Them Home Campaign yesterday met Colombian government, Irish Government, United Nations and International Red Cross officials.

Ms Ruane confirmed they also visited the three prisoners who were delighted with the verdict but “only too well aware of the dangers facing them and the Bring Them Home Campaign at this present time”.

Relatives of the trio and supporters were on stand-by back in Ireland today for news of a release.

Ms Ruane accused the Colombian authorities of putting the prisoners’ lives at risk in recent years with a number of “dangerous comments” about them.

She continued: “We have called on the Colombian government to provide us with a comprehensive security plan to inform us how they are going to protect the men and the Bring Them Home Campaign representatives who are over here prior to us leaving the country.

“Their irresponsible comments have created the problem. They must now present us with a solution.

“We will be telling the Colombian authorities today that we want the men home and we want them home now and to stop playing games with all our lives.”