Action Alert: Colombia Three Return to Ireland.

Published: 6 August, 2005

  Action Alert: Colombia Three Return to Ireland

The three Irishmen framed by the Colombian judicial system and sentenced to 17 ½  years in prison, a virtual death sentence, after they were acquitted of supporting Colombian rebels have returned to Ireland after evading Colombian authorities.

All should be rosy, but there is more work to be done.

There is real danger that this will be turned into a petty, political situation and the men deported.  Justice Minister Michael Mc Dowell is so virulently anti-Sinn Fein, that anything could happen, including deportation.  Contact information follows.

I.                   Background

Here’s what the Irish Examiner wrote today:

“The astonishing words of 58-year-old fugitive Jim Monaghan announcing the return of the Colombia Three to an astounded Charlie Bird of RTÉ.

”The remarkable interview from the thin, pale and obviously nervous Donegal man left the political establishment on both sides of the Border reeling.

”Turning common sense on its head, as calls began for his immediate arrest, the eldest member of the Colombia Three insisted he was not on the run.

”’I wouldn’t be giving this interview. I’m back and I would hope that I’ll be left in peace... The Taoiseach asked that we be sent back when we were awaiting on the appeal - so I hope they will continue in that vein.’

“The Northern Ireland peace process was plunged into crisis and the political and security system south of the Border appeared to be in disarray over the secret return of the so-called "Colombia Three" to Ireland this week.”

“Acting as Minister for Justice in the absence of Michael McDowell, who is on holiday, Tánaiste Mary Harney said there were very serious issues as to how the men were able to return to this country, particularly as they had been traveling on fraudulent passports.

“In its statement issued through the Northern Ireland Office, the British government said: ‘We have only just become aware of the presence of these men in the Republic of Ireland. That is a matter for the Irish authorities. If they enter the UK an extradition request will be dealt with without delay.’

“There is no extradition treaty between Ireland and Colombia but official Colombian government sources pointed out last night that there was an Interpol arrest warrant out for the trio.”

On the political side, the article continues:

“The Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded an immediate statement from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and called on them "to clarify whether this issue was part of the negotiations between the Government and Sinn Féin. However, a Government spokesman said the return of the men was "not part of the discussions with Sinn Féin". The Government "had no prior knowledge" of their return.

"The Northern Ireland Office also said the men's return was not part of any arrangement or deal done. There was an angry reaction from unionists with DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson quoting President Bush's words that whoever harbored a terrorist was a terrorist himself. Mr Robinson asked where the Taoiseach stood in this regard. ‘If Bertie Ahern fails to hand these men over, then in President Bush's and our terms, he is a terrorist collaborator. We demand the clearest statement from our own prime minister that if these fugitives put one foot in Northern Ireland they will be arrested pending extradition proceedings and if the Colombian authorities seek extradition, it will be granted.’

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was emphatic in denying their arrival had anything to do with his party's contact with the Government following the IRA declaration it had formally ended its campaign last week.

The RTE contends that the Irish Department of Justice will consider the Colombian request.  Considering Michael Mc Dowell’s virulent antipathy to Sinn Fein, anything could happen.

“The Department of Justice has said it will consider any request for assistance from the Colombian authorities pursuing three men found guilty of training Marxist rebels there.

“A spokesperson for the Department of Justice added: 'We will fulfill our international obligations subject to the scrutiny of the Irish courts.'

“Earlier, Colombian vice president Francisco Santos called on the Taoiseach to show Ireland's commitment to the global fight against terrorism by extraditing the men.

“Sinn Féin said this afternoon that the party had no prior knowledge of the men's return and again insisted that no deals were done with the Irish or British governments. The party's vice-president, Pat Doherty, also dismissed claims of a crisis in the Northern peace process as ‘nonsense.’” 

II. Contact Information: 

Call, write, email the Ambassador to the US, Noel Fahy and the Taoseach, Bertie Ahern.  Remember, the Irish government did a good job in seeing that justice was done in this case.  We don’t want to see petty, party politics interfering nor do we want the British government to pressure Dublin into reacting

Ambassado Noel Fahy, Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008

Tel: 202-462-3939; Fax: 202-232-5993; Email through the Embassy web site [you will have to give personal information]: www.irelandemb.org/contact.html

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Tel: 353 1 662 48 88; Fax: 353 1 478 0593; Email: www.webmaster@taoiseach.irlgov.ie