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19/08/2005
‘Colombia Three’ released by Garda
The ‘Colombia Three’ have been freed by Gardai after being questioned in relation to their arrival back in the Republic of Ireland last month.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years in a Colombian jail on charges of training Marxists rebels but vanished in December 2004 while on bail awaiting an appeal.
Niall Connolly was released without charge at midnight on Thursday after being questioned about alleged passport offences. Martin McCauley and James Monaghan earlier left police stations in Dublin. All three men had apparently presented themselves to police at the stations.
North Antrim MLA Ian Paisley Jnr said the Irish Government would be judged by its actions concerning the trio.
“The authorities have only one course of action open to them that is credible,” Mr Paisley said. “They must arrest him and send him back to Colombia. They must capture his colleagues and they too must face the same swift and certain justice.
“The Republic has a choice, does it want to be regarded as a place for terrorist fugitives to hide or does it want to stand shoulder to shoulder with those democratic countries who oppose terrorism? The choice is the most important that the Republic will make and it will be judged by its actions."
The men, who are wanted in Colombia for allegedly training Marxist rebels, presented themselves at garda stations voluntarily on Thursday.
(MB/SP)
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years in a Colombian jail on charges of training Marxists rebels but vanished in December 2004 while on bail awaiting an appeal.
Niall Connolly was released without charge at midnight on Thursday after being questioned about alleged passport offences. Martin McCauley and James Monaghan earlier left police stations in Dublin. All three men had apparently presented themselves to police at the stations.
North Antrim MLA Ian Paisley Jnr said the Irish Government would be judged by its actions concerning the trio.
“The authorities have only one course of action open to them that is credible,” Mr Paisley said. “They must arrest him and send him back to Colombia. They must capture his colleagues and they too must face the same swift and certain justice.
“The Republic has a choice, does it want to be regarded as a place for terrorist fugitives to hide or does it want to stand shoulder to shoulder with those democratic countries who oppose terrorism? The choice is the most important that the Republic will make and it will be judged by its actions."
The men, who are wanted in Colombia for allegedly training Marxist rebels, presented themselves at garda stations voluntarily on Thursday.
(MB/SP)
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