Madam, - I applaud Mark Brennock's sensible view of the "Colombia Three" affair ("The baying for 'Colombia Three' to be jailed", Opinion, August 27th). Fine Gael and the PDs are trying to gain political kudos from bashing Sinn Féin, which seems to be the popular thing these days. The important thing to remember in this case is that the three men were found not guilty when they were tried in a court of law subject to the rigours that prevail here in Ireland. They may be guilty but the court of law says otherwise. Time to move on. - Yours, etc,
PAUL McATEE,
Palmerstown Square,
Dublin 20.
Madam, - Mark Brennock's article last Saturday was an insightful analysis of the issues surrounding these three Irishmen. Mr Brennock was right to stress the weakness of the argument made by the Progressive Democrats and Fine Gael that the Government must come up with some pretext to jail them.
However, setting aside the rights and wrongs for applying "the full rigours of the law" in this jurisdiction and the tricky situation facing the Government, are the Irish people not entitled to a full and truthful explanation as to why these fugitives visited Colombia on false passports and how they occupied their time before they were apprehended at Bogota's El Dorado Airport four years ago, having arrived there from a Farc safe haven in southern Colombia? - Yours,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Albert Park,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.