Posted on 08/05/2005 5:42:06 PM PDT by Irish_Thatcherite
The three Irishmen in hiding after being sentenced to 17 years in prison for training Farc rebels in Colombia have returned to Ireland and insisted they are not on the run.
Martin McAuley, Niall Connolly and Jim Monaghan have been on the run since a Bogota court overturned their original acquittal in December.
A Government spokesman has been quoted as saying the Government had no prior knowledge of the men's return.
"This issue was not part of the Government's discussions with Sinn Fein and we had no prior knowledge of their return to Ireland," a spokesperson said.
The Department of Justice said it was aware of reports that the men were back in Ireland, but was not yet prepared to comment on the situation other than to say that no extradition treaty existed between the Republic and Colombia, but if an extradition request was recieved it would be considered.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office has warned that if the men crossed the border into Northern Ireland they would face extradition.
"We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in Ireland. "That is a matter for the Irish authorities," the statement said. "If they enter the UK an extradition request will be dealt with without delay."
According to a report on RTE radio this evening, one of the Colombia Three, Jim Monaghan insisted that their return had not been part of any deal with the Irish or British governments.
He declined to say how they had returned to Ireland but said they three would not be hiding from gardai.
Reaction to the news has been swift in with Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, demanding an immediate statement from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice on the circumstances surrounding the men's reported return to Ireland.
Mr Kenny also asked the Taoiseach and the Minister to clarify whether this issue was part of the negotiations between the Government and Sinn Féin in the run up to the recent IRA statement on its future intentions.
Labour Party's Liz McManus, said: ""The Colombia Three have never been honest or truthful with the Irish people about the activities in Colombia so anything they say about the circumstances of their return to Ireland should be treated with great caution."
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," Ms McManus added.
Dan Boyle of the Green Party asked: "If extradition by the Columbian authorities is sought will it be considered, keeping in mind the discomfort that many here feel about the quality of the legal system in Columbia?"
"If extradition is not considered will a prosecution on the use of illegal Irish passports follow? These are questions to which the Irish government must respond quickly."
"The continuing ambivalence of these three men regarding the FARC organisation in Columbia is a matter of deep concern to the Green Party, given that organisation's kidnapping and continuing incarceration of the Columbian Green Party presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt. Such ambivalence cannot be allowed to continue," concluded Deputy Boyle.
The Ulster Unionist Party's Michael McGimpsey said the Government have a duty to send the men back to Colombia to face due legal process.
We are now harbouring terrorist fugitives - Guess we are officially a member of the Axis of Evil, when I wish us to be a member of the Coaliton of The Willing!
Pity we can't impeach Bertie for treason!
Peter King and Teddy Kennedy will soon demand their extradition ... NOT!
Funny enough I'll take the Irish government's word on this. I don't think they did do a deal as this would appear to be very embarassing to them. Judging by the British reaction, ie that if they step foot in the UK they're going to get nicked I'm pretty sure this has come as a surprise to both governments.
But not for a second will I believe that Gerry and Martin didn't know all about it. This is just one more example of the Provies' breathtaking arrogance and double dealing, how they simply believe that the rules don't apply to them (and to be fair for the past decade or so the rules haven't applied to them), just like the Northern Bank and MacCartney you can just see them saying "Wha? Wot did we do wrong now?" bless 'em.
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