Hopes raised for return of Colombia Three

Campaigners for the release of three Irishmen detained in Colombia were tonight hopeful that the prisoners could be back in Ireland soon.

Their hopes were raised by a statement from the Colombian authorities that they could see no reason why Martin McCauley, Niall Connolly and James Monaghan could not return to Ireland on condition that they would fly back to Bogota for the appeal against their case by prosecutors if a magistrate approved such a move.