Govt adamant no deal done on Columbia Three

The Government has once again insisted that no behind-the-scenes deal was done with the Columbia Three relating to their surprise return to Ireland.

The Junior Foreign Affairs Minister is adamant the Government had no prior knowledge of their return.

Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley were handed down 17-year jail terms by the Columbian courts for training Marxist rebels.

Minister Conor Lenihan said Bertie Ahern was stunned to hear of their return.

"The Taoiseach was as surprised as anybody else by the interview on television the other day," he said.

"It's most ignoble and wrong for people to attribute or suggest that there is a deal or has been a deal in this matter."