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25/07/2002
Hearing scheduled for men accused of training FARC rebels
The three men accused of assisting FARC guerrillas in Colombia have had a date of October 4 set for the preliminary hearing into their case.
Jim Monaghan and Niall Connolly from the Republic of Ireland and Martin McCauley from Northern Ireland were arrested at Bogota's international airport last August and held in connection with having false documents.
The men, also accused of training rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to make bombs and other weapons, have been held at a military base in Bogota since August 11.
Under the Colombian legal system, prosecutors have 240 days to prepare the case before going to trial.
The Colombian army claim the men assisted in training FARC guerrillas over five weeks while they were in a demilitarised area the government handed over to FARC more than two years ago to launch peace talks.
The men could also be sentenced immediately as they have confessed to carrying false passports.
However, they have all denied links with the IRA or Colombian guerrillas.
(MB)
Jim Monaghan and Niall Connolly from the Republic of Ireland and Martin McCauley from Northern Ireland were arrested at Bogota's international airport last August and held in connection with having false documents.
The men, also accused of training rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to make bombs and other weapons, have been held at a military base in Bogota since August 11.
Under the Colombian legal system, prosecutors have 240 days to prepare the case before going to trial.
The Colombian army claim the men assisted in training FARC guerrillas over five weeks while they were in a demilitarised area the government handed over to FARC more than two years ago to launch peace talks.
The men could also be sentenced immediately as they have confessed to carrying false passports.
However, they have all denied links with the IRA or Colombian guerrillas.
(MB)
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Three Irishmen are set to appear in a Colombian court today accused of training left wing guerrillas in the use of explosives and other terrorist techniques. Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan have been held in custody for almost 18 months following their arrest in connection with alleged training of FARC rebels.
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Three Irishmen are set to appear in a Colombian court today accused of training left wing guerrillas in the use of explosives and other terrorist techniques. Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan have been held in custody for almost 18 months following their arrest in connection with alleged training of FARC rebels.
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