Tensions mount over ‘Colombia three’
Unionists have stepped up their calls for three republicans who escaped to Ireland after being given jail terms in Colombia to be sent back.
Ulster Unionist assembly member Billy Armstrong warned that failure to remove Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan would be seen as support for terrorism.
However, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has welcomed the so-called ‘Colombia three’, who were found guilty of training guerrillas, and insisted they should stay.
Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern said at the weekend that the return of the men, who vanished in December while on bail pending an appeal, had created “enormous difficulties” for the peace process.
And today Mr Armstrong stepped up the pressure on the Irish government, saying that inaction “would be publicly stating that they are not an international partner in the war against terror”.
“Following the political events of the last fortnight it can be no small coincidence that these convicted felons have ‘magically’ returned to these shores,” he said.
“It would appear that their return is yet another aspect of the choreographed, appeasement programme to Sinn Fein/IRA.”
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said Mr Ahern would be seen as a “terrorist collaborator” if he did not send the men back, while the SDLP’s Alban Maginness said the men’s return had “undermined the process of restoring the Good Friday agreement”.
However, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams denied this, saying: “This is not causing a crisis in the peace process. What is causing a crisis in the political process is the refusal or the failure by the unionists to share power with the rest of us at this time.”
Mr Adams insisted he learned about their return to Ireland shortly after it became public on Friday evening, adding: “I’m delighted the three of them are back.
“I’m delighted for themselves as individuals but I’m especially delighted for their families. They’re back and that’s a good thing.”
The three men were arrested the Colombian capital, Bogota, in August 2001 and in June 2004 were found guilty of travelling on false passports.
While they were acquitted of training Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas, this decision was reversed after an appeal by the attorney general.
Unlike Britain, Ireland currently has no extradition treaty with Colombia, although the government there said the Republic has a “legal and moral obligation” to send them back.
A statement issued by the Northern Ireland Office on Friday said any extradition requests would be dealt with “without delay” if the men entered the United Kingdom.
