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05/02/2003
Colombia Three trial re-commences
The trial of three Irishmen men suspected of being members of an IRA unit training rebels in Colombia is due to begin again today.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan are facing a charge of training Marxist guerrillas since their arrest at Bogota Airport in August 2001.
The trial was suspended in December after the prosecution was unable to present two of its key witnesses because they both feared for their lives if they testified.
As a result the judge had to call an adjournment as the prosecution's case was in danger of collapsing because of the episode.
A spokesperson for the Bring Them Home Campaign revealed that the prosecution witnesses were still a key part of the trial and that it would be their evidence which would decide whether the men are convicted or not.
The three Irishmen are currently being held in Colombia's toughest prison in the mountain province of Boyaca after refusing to attend court claiming the conditions for a fair trial did not exist.
If convicted all three men could face up to 20 years in prison.
(MB)
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan are facing a charge of training Marxist guerrillas since their arrest at Bogota Airport in August 2001.
The trial was suspended in December after the prosecution was unable to present two of its key witnesses because they both feared for their lives if they testified.
As a result the judge had to call an adjournment as the prosecution's case was in danger of collapsing because of the episode.
A spokesperson for the Bring Them Home Campaign revealed that the prosecution witnesses were still a key part of the trial and that it would be their evidence which would decide whether the men are convicted or not.
The three Irishmen are currently being held in Colombia's toughest prison in the mountain province of Boyaca after refusing to attend court claiming the conditions for a fair trial did not exist.
If convicted all three men could face up to 20 years in prison.
(MB)
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28 November 2002
Hill to monitor Colombia Three trial
A west Belfast man, wrongly convicted of the Guildford pub bombing in 1974, is travelling to Colombia to monitor the trial of three IRA suspects accused of training guerrillas.
Hill to monitor Colombia Three trial
A west Belfast man, wrongly convicted of the Guildford pub bombing in 1974, is travelling to Colombia to monitor the trial of three IRA suspects accused of training guerrillas.
06 February 2003
Colombia Three trial adjourned until Friday
The trial of three alleged IRA men arrested in Colombia and charged with training Marxist guerrillas has been adjourned until tomorrow. Prosecution witnesses appeared in court amid heavy security on Wednesday for the trial of Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan.
Colombia Three trial adjourned until Friday
The trial of three alleged IRA men arrested in Colombia and charged with training Marxist guerrillas has been adjourned until tomorrow. Prosecution witnesses appeared in court amid heavy security on Wednesday for the trial of Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan.
18 November 2002
Colombia 3 campaign 'disturbed' over withdrawals
The Bring Them Home campaign has said that it is "disturbed and deeply disappointed" following news that three members of the Oireachtas have pulled out of a trip to monitor the trial of the 'Colombia Three'.
Colombia 3 campaign 'disturbed' over withdrawals
The Bring Them Home campaign has said that it is "disturbed and deeply disappointed" following news that three members of the Oireachtas have pulled out of a trip to monitor the trial of the 'Colombia Three'.
16 October 2002
Second court no-show for Colombia Three
The three suspected IRA men arrested in Bogota last year have once again refused to attend court for a preliminary hearing. It is the second time the men have refused to attend a court hearing, having remained in their cells for the original court date last week.
Second court no-show for Colombia Three
The three suspected IRA men arrested in Bogota last year have once again refused to attend court for a preliminary hearing. It is the second time the men have refused to attend a court hearing, having remained in their cells for the original court date last week.
04 October 2002
'Colombia Three' trial begins in Bogota
UPDATE: The trial of the three suspected IRA men arrested at an airport in Colombia for allegedly training Marxist Farc guerrillas last year was postponed on Friday when the three accused men refused to leave their cells.
'Colombia Three' trial begins in Bogota
UPDATE: The trial of the three suspected IRA men arrested at an airport in Colombia for allegedly training Marxist Farc guerrillas last year was postponed on Friday when the three accused men refused to leave their cells.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
