A Bogota judge has denied a petition to allow the so-called "Colombia Three" to return to Ireland.
Judge Jairo Accosta yesterday decided that James Monaghan, Martin McCauley, and Niall Connolly, who were acquitted last month on a charge of training FARC guerrillas, could not leave Colombia pending an appeal of their acquittal by the state's attorney general. The appeal process could take up to eight months.
The three were convicted on a lesser charge of using false passports, and given sentences of between two and four years.
Judge Accosta said he was not satisfied the men would return. While they could be released on bail, their defence team says their lives would be in danger in Bogotá.
Ms Catriona Ruane of the Bring Them Home campaign, said she was "shocked" by the ruling. "I can't believe that we have three men imprisoned for the last three weeks because the Colombian state failed to produce an adequate security plan. The dogs on the street know there is no safe place for these men in Colombia."