The British army and government have been assisting the Colombian authorities since August last year or earlier in pursuing a peace deal with the FARC guerrillas in Colombia.
It is now alleged that the armed revolutionaries have been receiving assistance from the IRA. The three Irishmen detained in Bogota are to face charges relating to alleged training in explosives.
Wider links between Northern Ireland and the situation in that country are now emerging. The Colombian general in charge of the arrest of the three men in Bogota last week visited Northern Ireland last year, the British army press office has confirmed.
Two former general officers commanding (GOCs) in Northern Ireland visited Colombia last year as part of a British assistance programme, along with the former Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam.
Dr Mowlam visited Colombia on a number of occasions in the past year in her capacity as the British government minister responsible for tackling the drugs trade. Dr Mowlam also gave advice in pursuing a peace process in Colombia based on her experience as a central figure in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
The British army press office said the visits by the former GOCs - Sir Michael Rose and Sir Roger Wheeler - were part of a "human rights" initiative by the former NI Secretary.
The British Foreign Office also attempted to assist in a peace process in Colombia. A senior diplomat met the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) last year to discuss human rights and alternatives to drug production.
According to Garda sources, the IRA has, simultaneously, been assisting FARC by supplying it with Semtex and expertise in bomb-making.
It has also emerged that Colombia's Gen Jorge Mora visited Belfast last August and met senior security officials.
Yesterday the SDLP joined the criticism of Sinn Fein arising from the events in Colombia. Mr Eddie McGrady of the SDLP said Sinn Fein had many questions to answer about the Colombian affair.
"What is going on? Why were these men there? Were they being paid for their time? What were they being paid in? Were drugs involved? Where was that payment going? Would innocent Colombian lives be lost as a result of this liaison?"