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05/02/2003
Colombia Three trial re-commences
The trial of three Irishmen men suspected of being members of an IRA unit training rebels in Colombia is due to begin again today.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan are facing a charge of training Marxist guerrillas since their arrest at Bogota Airport in August 2001.
The trial was suspended in December after the prosecution was unable to present two of its key witnesses because they both feared for their lives if they testified.
As a result the judge had to call an adjournment as the prosecution's case was in danger of collapsing because of the episode.
A spokesperson for the Bring Them Home Campaign revealed that the prosecution witnesses were still a key part of the trial and that it would be their evidence which would decide whether the men are convicted or not.
The three Irishmen are currently being held in Colombia's toughest prison in the mountain province of Boyaca after refusing to attend court claiming the conditions for a fair trial did not exist.
If convicted all three men could face up to 20 years in prison.
(MB)
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan are facing a charge of training Marxist guerrillas since their arrest at Bogota Airport in August 2001.
The trial was suspended in December after the prosecution was unable to present two of its key witnesses because they both feared for their lives if they testified.
As a result the judge had to call an adjournment as the prosecution's case was in danger of collapsing because of the episode.
A spokesperson for the Bring Them Home Campaign revealed that the prosecution witnesses were still a key part of the trial and that it would be their evidence which would decide whether the men are convicted or not.
The three Irishmen are currently being held in Colombia's toughest prison in the mountain province of Boyaca after refusing to attend court claiming the conditions for a fair trial did not exist.
If convicted all three men could face up to 20 years in prison.
(MB)
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