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Andrews to meet Colombia suspects
12 January 2002 --
A PROMINENT Fianna Fail member will fly out to Colombia this morning to meet the
three suspected IRA men accused of training FARC rebels amid growing controversy
over an investigation into the case by US Congress. Former Republic minister for
foreign affairs David Andrews will travel with Caitriona Ruane, spokeswoman for
the Bring Them Home campaign, for a series of meetings. During the week-long
trip the pair will hold talks with the minister for justice, the director of
prisons and the attorney general. They will also visit Niall Connolly, Martin
McCauley and James Monaghan, who are currently being held in the high security
La Picota prison in Bogota. The trio were arrested in Bogota last August on
suspicion of training FARC rebels and travelling on false passports. Campaigners
are currently resisting alleged moves to have the men transferred to another
jail a considerable distance away from the Colombian capital, which has raised
concerns about further access to the prisoners. It also emerged last night that
Madden and Finucane Solicitors wrote to US congressman William Delahunt
expressing concern that planned hearings in Congress on the controversy could
prejudice the men’s defence. In his letter to the congressman, Peter Madden
said:“We would point out to you that our clients have been subjected to
considerable press speculation, most of it inaccurate about their presence in
Colombia. “They are entitled to a defence at any future trial. They are entitled
to put forward evidence in their defence to rebut allegations that they were
involved in unlawful activity in Colombia. “Their defence would be seriously
prejudiced by an material examined in public by a House committee, whilst a
legal process into those very matters is pending in Colombia.” Last night
Caitriona Ruane said she expected to learn of the three men’s fate by the middle
of next month. According to Ms Ruane Colombian prosecutors have completed their
investigation and are currently considering whether to charge the men. Ms Ruane
also rejected newspaper reports claiming CIA satellites monitored a number of
explosions in the FARC region which led to the arrest of the trio. “If there is
proof why has is not been given to the Colombian prosecutors? Our lawyers have
not got it as part of the case,” she said. Ms Ruane added that there were fresh
fears for the safety of the men. “The concerns about their safety has tripled.
There is a war in Colombia and that is very worrying.”
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