British reaction: The British government has said it would extradite the so-called "Colombia Three" if they entered the UK.
Downing Street and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) last night refused to comment on the acute political challenge now facing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, insisting this was for now "a matter for the Irish authorities".
However, the "huge" nature of that challenge was spelt out by Colombian officials, who quoted up-to-date foreign ministry advice that the three men "are fugitives from justice in the eyes of Colombian law" and the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the Colombian authorities to Interpol.
In its statement issued through the NIO, the British government said: "We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in the Republic of Ireland. That is a matter for the Irish authorities. If they enter the UK an extradition request will be dealt with without delay."
Asked if they had prior knowledge that the men were returning to Ireland, or if the men were the subject of any part of the negotiation of the IRA statement formally ending its armed campaign, prime minister Tony Blair's official spokesman told The Irish Times: "Categorically not."