Colombia three to hear verdict within days

The three Irish men being held in a Colombian jail accused of training left-wing terrorists are to hear their fate within days.

James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McAuley were arrested in August 2001 as they stepped off a plane from an area which was a stronghold of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).

Local authorities claim the men were training left-wing Farc rebels in the use of explosives and using false documentation.

All three men, who have been accused of member Provisional IRA members, had previously refused to appear before a Colombian court because they claimed they would not receive a fair trial and that they feared for their safety.

However, last July, in their first and last court appearance, they denied all charges against them.

In his statement Mr McAuley denied the charges and said that he was not a member of the IRA. He said he had travelled under an assumed name to avoid "harassment and threats".

Mr Monaghan said that he had travelled to the FARC controlled region to discuss "conflict resolution" and denied the claim that he was an IRA member.

Mr Connolly was more forthright. He was highly critical of the trial, which he claimed had been used by the British government to undermine the Northern Ireland peace process.

If found guilty the three men face a custodial sentence of up to 20 years in jail, but they would have the right of appeal.

(MB)