Politicians to visit 'Colombia Three' in jail

Four Irish politicians are to travel to Colombia next week to visit three Irishmen held on charges of training FARC guerillas.

Fianna Fáil MEP Mr Niall Andrews, Sinn Féin TD Mr Sean Crowe, Fianna Fáil Senator Ms Mary White and Sinn Féin MLA Ms Caitríona Ruane will also meet senior members of the Colombian government, the Catholic Church, and the United Nations.

It was obvious in July that given the lack of evidence in the prosecution case that these three men should have been home with their families many months ago Mr David Andrews

The trial of Mr James Monaghan (56), Mr Martin McCauley (40), and Mr Niall Connolly (36), has been delayed again, with Judge Jairo Acosta blaming a heavy workload.

The "Colombia Three" were arrested in Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001 and charged with teaching bomb-making techniques to the left-wing FARC guerrillas and with travelling on false passports.

They are in La Modelo prison in the Colombian capital where they have been awaiting a verdict since their trial concluded five months ago. They could get eight to 14 years if found guilty on the bomb-making charge, and two to eight years if convicted of using false passports. The judgment is likely to be delivered to the prison in writing.

At a press conference this morning, Mr Andrews the delay in the verdict was "a grave concern"

"It was obvious in July that given the lack of evidence in the prosecution case that these three men should have been home with their families many months ago.  They are three European citizens and I have met with the Vice President of Colombia, Mr Santos to express my concerns about the case."

Ms Ruane, of the Bring Them Home Campaign, said a team of 16 international observers "stated categorically in their reports that these men are not getting a fair trial and expressed concern about the politicisation of their trial."

Ms White said she had raised her concerns with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.