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The boys (Colombia 3) are back in town!
Colombia 3 'are back in Ireland'
The three Irishmen each received 17 year sentences
Three missing republicans sentenced to jail terms for training Marxist rebels in Colombia have secretly returned to Ireland, it has been reported.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years after an appeal court reversed their earlier acquittal on the charge.
The men, who vanished in December 2004 while on bail awaiting a court of appeal decision, deny a deal was done.
Irish state broadcaster RTE reported the trio returned in recent days.
RTE interviewed one of the men, Jim Monaghan, at a secret location.
He denied that any deal had been done with the British or Irish governments following the IRA's statement last week in which it said it was ending its campaign of violence.
James Monaghan pictured back in Ireland
He said he did not consider himself to be "on the run" and would not be hiding from Irish police.
There is no extradition treaty between the Republic of Ireland and Colombia.
Monaghan would not say how the three men got back to Ireland, but that they had got "a lot of help from a lot of people" and that he would not endanger them.
He said he hoped the Irish government would not place any obstacles in the way of the three men staying in the country and the government "would be very remiss to send anyone back to Colombia".
We are looking for their immediate arrest and for the Republic to hand them over to the Colombian authorities
Peter Robinson
DUP deputy leader
He said the men were not prepared to go back to Colombia if they lost their appeal in the case, and that they would be seeking legal advice about the possibility of extradition back to Colombia.
An Irish government spokesman said: "This issue was not part of the government's discussions with Sinn Fein and we had no prior knowledge of their return to Ireland."
However, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded an immediate statement from Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on the circumstances surrounding the men's return.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in the Republic of Ireland.
It is surely no coincidence that the Colombia Three have arrived home after the events of the last fortnight emanating from the IRA statement
Michael McGimpsey
UUP
"That is a matter for the Irish authorities. If they enter the UK, an extradition request will be dealt with without delay."
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he welcomed the news.
However, he added: "I want to make clear that this issue was not discussed with the Irish government, nor was it either a deal or a side deal related to recent developments in the peace process."
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said he had expressed his party's "grave concern" about the three men's return with the British government.
"We are looking for their immediate arrest and for the Republic to hand them over to the Colombian authorities.
"Mr Ahern must facilitate, by whatever means necessary, their swift extradition. If he does not, unionists in Northern Ireland will believe him to be complicit," he said.
'Remain in the country'
Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey said the Irish government had a duty "to send the three men back to Colombia".
"It is surely no coincidence that the Colombia Three have arrived home after the events of the last fortnight emanating from the IRA statement," he said.
The SDLP's Alex Attwood said the case had caused huge damage to the peace process.
"Their return will not be celebrated by democratic nationalists across the island," he said.
The men, who had been accused of being IRA members, were found guilty of travelling on false passports.
They were acquitted of training Farc guerrillas, but the Colombian attorney general appealed against that decision.
Trio were sentenced for training Marxist rebels
A judge had ordered the men to remain in the country pending the outcome of the appeal.
Their whereabouts were unknown and an international arrest warrant was issued for them.
McCauley, 41, is from Lurgan in County Armagh, Monaghan, 58, is from County Donegal and Connolly, 38, is from Dublin.
The three had been detained at Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001 as they were about to board a flight out of the country.
Their arrest led to speculation that Irish republicans had formed links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
The main charge against them was that they had been teaching the rebels urban terrorism techniques.
The Irishmen strenuously denied this, saying they were in the area to monitor the fledgling peace process as well as being eco-tourists.
The three Irishmen each received 17 year sentences
Three missing republicans sentenced to jail terms for training Marxist rebels in Colombia have secretly returned to Ireland, it has been reported.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years after an appeal court reversed their earlier acquittal on the charge.
The men, who vanished in December 2004 while on bail awaiting a court of appeal decision, deny a deal was done.
Irish state broadcaster RTE reported the trio returned in recent days.
RTE interviewed one of the men, Jim Monaghan, at a secret location.
He denied that any deal had been done with the British or Irish governments following the IRA's statement last week in which it said it was ending its campaign of violence.
James Monaghan pictured back in Ireland
He said he did not consider himself to be "on the run" and would not be hiding from Irish police.
There is no extradition treaty between the Republic of Ireland and Colombia.
Monaghan would not say how the three men got back to Ireland, but that they had got "a lot of help from a lot of people" and that he would not endanger them.
He said he hoped the Irish government would not place any obstacles in the way of the three men staying in the country and the government "would be very remiss to send anyone back to Colombia".
We are looking for their immediate arrest and for the Republic to hand them over to the Colombian authorities
Peter Robinson
DUP deputy leader
He said the men were not prepared to go back to Colombia if they lost their appeal in the case, and that they would be seeking legal advice about the possibility of extradition back to Colombia.
An Irish government spokesman said: "This issue was not part of the government's discussions with Sinn Fein and we had no prior knowledge of their return to Ireland."
However, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded an immediate statement from Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on the circumstances surrounding the men's return.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in the Republic of Ireland.
It is surely no coincidence that the Colombia Three have arrived home after the events of the last fortnight emanating from the IRA statement
Michael McGimpsey
UUP
"That is a matter for the Irish authorities. If they enter the UK, an extradition request will be dealt with without delay."
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he welcomed the news.
However, he added: "I want to make clear that this issue was not discussed with the Irish government, nor was it either a deal or a side deal related to recent developments in the peace process."
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said he had expressed his party's "grave concern" about the three men's return with the British government.
"We are looking for their immediate arrest and for the Republic to hand them over to the Colombian authorities.
"Mr Ahern must facilitate, by whatever means necessary, their swift extradition. If he does not, unionists in Northern Ireland will believe him to be complicit," he said.
'Remain in the country'
Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey said the Irish government had a duty "to send the three men back to Colombia".
"It is surely no coincidence that the Colombia Three have arrived home after the events of the last fortnight emanating from the IRA statement," he said.
The SDLP's Alex Attwood said the case had caused huge damage to the peace process.
"Their return will not be celebrated by democratic nationalists across the island," he said.
The men, who had been accused of being IRA members, were found guilty of travelling on false passports.
They were acquitted of training Farc guerrillas, but the Colombian attorney general appealed against that decision.
Trio were sentenced for training Marxist rebels
A judge had ordered the men to remain in the country pending the outcome of the appeal.
Their whereabouts were unknown and an international arrest warrant was issued for them.
McCauley, 41, is from Lurgan in County Armagh, Monaghan, 58, is from County Donegal and Connolly, 38, is from Dublin.
The three had been detained at Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001 as they were about to board a flight out of the country.
Their arrest led to speculation that Irish republicans had formed links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
The main charge against them was that they had been teaching the rebels urban terrorism techniques.
The Irishmen strenuously denied this, saying they were in the area to monitor the fledgling peace process as well as being eco-tourists.
I'm pretty sure the Unionists are going to hit the Republicans hard over the head with this, unless Bertie caves in and agrees to their extradition back to Colombia. I can't see this happening though. One thing's for sure; they probably got back into Ireland by using false passports (again)!
So, what do people think? How will this affect the peace process? Is there some shady dealing being done behind the scene? Will Bertie stick to his guns or send them back to Colombia?
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