NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you think they are guilty and if you do do you think they should be sent back to Columbia? (I'll get info for those who haven't heard of them soon.)

I don't think they are guilty and if they are they shouldn't be sent to columbia

noone...

well here's an artical any way:
Irishmen sought in Colombia return to Ireland

05 August 2005 23:07
RTÉ News has learned that the three Irishmen who were found guilty of training FARC rebels in Colombia have returned to Ireland.

Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years in prison after an appeal court reversed their earlier acquittal on the charge.

The men have been on the run from the authorities in Colombia since December 2004 when they were released on bail awaiting a court of appeal decision.

An international arrest warrant was issued for the men who were also found guilty of travelling on false passports.

In an exclusive interview with RTÉ News, Jim Monaghan confirmed that the men had returned to Ireland in the past few days.

However, he would not say how they got here. He said that they had got a 'lot of help from a lot of people' and that he would not endanger them.

Mr Monaghan said that no deal had been done with either the British or Irish governments for their return and that he did not consider himself to be on the run.

He said that he hopes the Irish Government will not place any obstacles in the way of the three staying in this country and that the Government would be 'very remiss' to send anyone back to a country like Colombia. He also stated he would not be hiding from the gardaí.

Mr Monaghan said that he was not prepared to return to Colombia if the men lost their appeal in their case and that the three men will be seeking legal advice about the possibility of extradition back to the country.

he does not believe that their return to Ireland will damage the peace process. However, he acknowledged that the United States would not be happy with their reappearance in Ireland.

Mr Monaghan denied that the three had gone to Colombia to train FARC rebels. He claimed that they visited the country in good faith to learn about the peace process there, saying that he had no opinion on FARC and that he was not going to get into condemnation.

A Government spokesperson said the issue was not part of discussions with Sinn Féin and that it had no prior knowledge of the men's return to Ireland.

The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, who is acting as Justice Minister, said there were 'very serious issues' as to how the three were able to return to this country, particularly on fraudulent passports.

The Northern Ireland Office said it had only just become aware of the return of the three men and warned that if they crossed the border into the North they would face extradition.

Kenny demands clarification from Taoiseach

The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny, has demanded an immediate statement from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice on the circumstances surrounding the men's return.

He also asked the Taoiseach to clarify whether this issue was part of the negotiations between the Government and Sinn Féin in the run up to the recent IRA statement on its future intentions.

Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0805/colombia.html

Do you think they are guilty and if you do do you think they should be sent back to Columbia? (I'll get info for those who haven't heard of them soon.)

I don't think they are guilty and if they are they shouldn't be sent to columbia
I can't tell anything about the evidence from that article. But it is kind of a bummer that Columbia doesn't have a "double jeopardy" rule. I thought every modern criminal law system had that.

added a poll. I'll try to find more about what evidence was used. They(the three) say they went to see how the peace process was working out in columbia and that false evidence was brought against them and they say the government could never send them to a place like columbia.

I can't tell anything about the evidence from that article. But it is kind of a bummer that Columbia doesn't have a "double jeopardy" rule. I thought every modern criminal law system had that.
They appealed the conviction for travelling on false passports (which was a fair enough conviction), and the judge decided to do them for training FARC rebels while he was at it.

Of course they should go back. The way to get free is to clear your name properly, not by running away and hiding somewhere. They should face the consequences.

here's the another link and the poll is about training Farc rebels not the false passport charge. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4127854.stm

I don't have trust in the columbian courts, there was contradictions in the prosecutions evidence but still they where found guilty.

bump?

would the people who think they're guilty post why please.

Terrorist trainers! They should be locked up here in Ireland!

Terrorist trainers! They should be locked up here in Ireland!
I think they should defintely have a re-trial here in Ireland.

It's people like this who give Republicanism a bad name. Furthermore, people like this on both sides have made the peace process so much harder by proving that they weren't in the paramilitaries out of idealism or belief in the cause, but because they were petty thugs looking to ride the coattails of a broad movement. When Adams asks the IRA to lay down its arms, these are the people that will turn to crime and put the people of Northern Ireland through another hell.

It's people like this who give Republicanism a bad name. Furthermore, people like this on both sides have made the peace process so much harder by proving that they weren't in the paramilitaries out of idealism or belief in the cause, but because they were petty thugs looking to ride the coattails of a broad movement. When Adams asks the IRA to lay down its arms, these are the people that will turn to crime and put the people of Northern Ireland through another hell.
Why did they say they would go peacefully to the Gardaí then? They just don't want to be sent back to columbia and IMO who can blame them? They where found innocent orginally you know.

no one interested?

There is no evidence whatsoever that they were training FARC, they were travelling on false passports, of that they are guilty. But because of their republican past they are immediatly accused of trainning terrorists, its a farce. From what i understand they travelled on false passports because they knew that people would react this way amongst other reasons. I will just emphisise, There is no evidence, they were trialed and convicted in the media because they are republicans and thats all. It is possible for republicans to visit a country without incieting terrorism ya know.

And if they are to face charges on the false passports case, they should do so here in Ireland, no offence intended but i dont have great faith in the Columbian judicial system. mind you i dont have great faith in ours. the Free State government have been cowardly in this overall, afraid to stand up for what is right.

And if they are to face charges on the false passports case, they should do so here in Ireland, no offence intended but i dont have great faith in the Columbian judicial system. mind you i dont have great faith in ours. the Free State government have been cowardly in this overall, afraid to stand up for what is right.
What's wrong with our judicial system?


Why do you say they are cowardly the government haven't done or said anything yet.(edit:sorry yeah they've left it to the courts, ignore that then)

The Colombian judicial system is different then most. That doesn't mean it is terrible or bad. I think it has the authority to make such a decision and I think these men should go back to Colombia to face justice.

Im not insulting the system. But i have seen pictures of where the columbia 3 where imprisioned and it was disgusting, you wouldnt wish it on anybody.

Im not insulting the system. But i have seen pictures of where the columbia 3 where imprisioned and it was disgusting, you wouldnt wish it on anybody.

If they commited crimes in Colombia (and I believe they in fact did) they should be sentenced in that country.

If they commited crimes in Colombia (and I believe they in fact did) they should be sentenced in that country.
From what evidence do you believe they commited crimes? or is it a case of they "probbably" did it because of thier political beliefs

Firstly these men were acquited by the Columbian justice system.
Secondly, at the insistence of the CIA, an extraordinary and unprecedented appeal process was initiated which overturned the initial verdict, which had found that the prosecution case was irreperably flawed.
Thirdly, these men have already served plenty of time in squalid and inhuman conditions for the passport offences.
Fourthly, As the men undoubtedly returned to Ireland on false documentation, they would first potentially face charges on those counts in Ireland.
Fifthly, As Colombia has no extradition agreement with the Republic of Ireland, there is absolutely NO CHANCE of them returning to that country.