Taoiseach told to find Colombia Three

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was tonight challenged to arrest three Irish republican fugitives from Colombia after it emerged they had returned to their homeland.

Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley have been missing since last December after an appeal court reversed their acquittal in Colombia for training Marxist rebels.

However, it emerged, they returned to Ireland in the last couple of days and have gone to ground.

Democratic Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson tonight said Mr Ahern had to hand them over to the Colombian authorities.

“These three men were intricately involved in the global terrorist network,” the East Belfast MP said.

“Bertie Ahern would do well to remember the words of President Bush when he said: ’those who harbour terrorists are terrorists'.”

The three Irishmen were arrested at Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001 as they prepared to board a flight out of the country.

They were accused of teaching left-wing rebels in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) urban terrorism techniques.

However they vigorously denied the claim, insisting they were visiting Colombia to monitor the peace process there.

It is understood that the three men have gone to ground since their return to Ireland.

It is also believed that they have insisted their return has nothing to do with the recent IRA declaration that it is ending its armed campaign.

Mr Robinson said tonight he had expressed the DUP’s grave concern about the Colombia three surfacing in the Republic.

“We are looking for their immediate arrest and for the Republic to hand them over to the Colombian authorities,” he said.

“Mr Ahern must facilitate by whatever means necessary their swift extradition, even if that means new legislation.

“If he does not, unionists in Northern Ireland will believe him to be complicit.

“These men are on-the-run terrorists, convicted of terrorism in a Colombian court.

“They are in the Republic of Ireland and given that there is supposed to be a global battle against terrorism, Bertie Ahern knows what he has to do.”

The Northern Ireland Office tonight said it had only just become aware of the return of the three fugitives.

It warned that if they crossed the border into Northern Ireland they would face extradition.

A spokesman said: “We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in the Republic of Ireland.

“That is a matter for the Irish authorities.

“If they enter the UK an extradition request will be dealt with without delay.”

Former Stormont Culture Minister Michael McGimpsy tonight said the Irish Government had a duty to send the three men back to Colombia.

However the Ulster Unionists negotiator thought this was unlikely.

“It is surely no coincidence that the Colombia Three have arrived home after the events of the last fortnight emanating from the IRA statement,” the south Belfast MLA said.

“The Irish Government are unlikely to send them back as this move is likely to be part of the latest concession choreography to republicans.

“The Colombia Three are probably the first ’on the run’ to be given a pardon. Once again, despicable political expediency is replacing common sense and due process.”

The Irish Department of Justice said it was aware of reports the three men were back in Ireland, but was not yet prepared to comment on the situation.

A spokesman said no extradition treaty existed between Ireland and Colombia, but if they received a request for extradition it would be considered.

It is understood Mr Monaghan claimed no deal was done with either the British or Irish governments for the return of the three men.

He said he did not consider himself to be on the run and would not be hiding from the gardaí.

Mr Monaghan again denied that the three had gone to Colombia to train FARC rebels and insisted they visited the country to learn about the peace process.

Fine Gael opposition party leader Enda Kenny demanded an immediate statement from the Prime Minister and the Minister for Justice on the circumstances surrounding the men’s return.

Mr Kenny also called on the Government to clarify whether their return was part of the negotiations between it and Sinn Féin in the run up to the recent IRA statement on its future intentions.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell is currently out of the country.

An Irish Government spokesman said tonight: ``This issue was not part of the Government's discussions with Sinn Féin and we had no prior knowledge of their return to Ireland.''

The Irish Labour Party called on gardaí to consider if the three men faced charges in Ireland for travelling on forged Irish passports.

Deputy leader Liz McManus also said Sinn Féin claimed to have no knowledge of their whereabouts, yet they arrived in Ireland a week after the IRA’s July 28 statement.

“We were told following their decision to jump bail that neither Sinn Féin or any of their supporters knew anything about their whereabouts,” she said.

“Now a week after the IRA statement they suddenly reappear in Ireland – an event that most people will find difficult to accept as a mere coincidence.

“The appropriate legal authorities here will now have to consider the position, including the question of whether or not the possession by at least two of the men of forged Irish passports requires any further action.”