Government says safety of Colombia Three 'a priority'

The Government has said the return to Ireland of the Colombia Three is the best way to ensure their safety pending an appeal against their acquittal on charges of training terrorists.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Government had "made clear" its view that the return of Mr Jim Monaghan, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr Martin McCauley was the best way to ensure their safety. He said the view was not a "commentary" on the judgment handed down in the case.

"The safety of the men remains our priority," he added. The Government would ask that the appeal process be expedited but would make it known through "diplomatic channels" that it believed the best way to ensure the men's safety pending the outcome would be for them to return to Ireland.

The Irish Ambassador to Mexico, Mr Art Agnew, has been dealing with the case on behalf of the Government.

Sinn Féin earlier called for Government intervention to secure the return of the men. The three were acquitted last month of training Marxist rebels of the FARC revolutionary movement to build bombs but have been told they must stay in the country pending the outcome of an appeal by the Colombian attorney general against the verdict.

The men were convicted on charges of carrying false passports and given sentences of between two and four years.

The attorney general's office has appealed the men's acquittal on charges they trained members of the FARC revolutionary movement in bomb-making skills.

If the case reaches the Supreme Court, legal experts say they could spend as long as five years in Colombia.

Their lawyers argue the men are in danger of attack from far-right paramilitaries and must be allowed leave Colombia for their safety.

Sinn Féin chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness today said the decision to prevent the men from travelling home was causing "deep anger and concern". He said the Government must act to "get these Irish citizens returned home safely.

"Every hour that the men remain in Colombia their lives are in grave danger ­ they cannot be protected in prison in Bogota and the Colombian authorities have turned down all requests to ensure the men¹s safety on their release," he said.

Ms Catriona Ruane of the Bring Them Home Campaign said the Government should intervene because the men cannot get justice in Colombia. "President Uribe, Ex-President Pastrana, General Mora, by their prejudicial comments, have created a situation where there is no safe place in Colombia for these three Irish citizens."

Mr Monaghan, Mr Connolly and Mr McCauley, who deny any ties to the IRA, have already spent nearly three years behind bars. But the men say they won't leave jail without security guarantees from the state.

They must remain in Bogota's Modelo notorious jail until they pay fines of about €6,000 each for using false passports but campaigners say the authorities have made no arrangements for the men's accomodation or upkeep upon their release.

Judge Jairo Acosta, who cleared them last month of the bomb charge, said they had to stay in Colombia, but he instructed police to protect them.

"The order restricting the Irish citizens from leaving the country is maintained," the judge said in his ruling.

Additional reporting PA