Dublin reaction: The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have avoided criticising either the appeal verdict or the sentencing in the case of the so-called Colombia Three, saying their concern for the men was confined to humanitarian considerations.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said in Brussels yesterday that while he thought the 17-year sentences were harsh, he would not criticise the judiciary of a foreign country. He accepted Colombia's courts were independent of its government.
The Tánaiste went further, saying she had "no reason to believe" that the trial had been unfair. Ms Harney remarked that the rebel group FARC, whose members the three men were convicted of training, was "after all a very dangerous organisation. It gains its money from smuggling cocaine; it has blown up people as they worship in a church."
She said that the other offence of which they were convicted - travelling on false passports - was "also a very serious offence ... if people deny their Irish citizenship and travel on a false passport there are issues for the Irish Government in relation to that matter too. Let's face it, if people deny their identity it poses difficulties for a Government like ours."
The Department of Foreign Affairs put up some €17,000 of the bail money required to ensure the men's release pending the appeal. The money was refunded by the Bring Them Home Campaign. There will, therefore, be no loss to the taxpayer if bail money is forfeited in this case, a spokesman for the Department confirmed.
As Interpol in Colombia yesterday said it would be issuing international arrest warrants for the men, who appeared to have fled the country, the Ulster Unionist Mr David Burnside said the Irish Government would be watched closely to see how it responded to the verdict.
In Brussels yesterday Mr Ahern said Ireland's role had been "exclusively a consular one" and that the Government would continue to give practical help to the men's families. He said he understood that the sentences would be upsetting for the families, particularly in the Christmas season.
Saying the sentences appeared harsh, he went on: "Obviously anyone looking at it, where one court seemed to be throwing out a number of the cases and then you end up with 17 years seems a very harsh position," he said.
"But I'm not getting into the business of criticising the judiciary in another country. I just wouldn't do it." The Taoiseach said Ireland had no extradition agreement with Colombia. Asked what would happen if the men turned up in Ireland, he said: "We will just have to wait and see." He said he had discussed the matter yesterday with the Attorney General.
He said the Government would examine the judgment and see what kind of advice it received on how the men should now proceed legally. "We will just have to see where it goes from here."
He said he had always spoken to the Colombian President and his officials about this case on the basis that the Government accepted the distinction between the executive and the judiciary in that country. "When there is a trial by the High Court and the Supreme Court and they give a judgment on a brutal murder, I don't go into the Dáil or go to a press conference talking about the severity of the crime. Naturally as an individual you might have your view on the circumstances if you have read them. But that's it, the judiciary makes a call."
The Tánaiste clearly distanced herself from claims by the men's supporters that they had not received a fair trial, and noted that they had been convicted of very serious offences. She said there must be "an end to paramilitarism and criminality in all its forms" and total commitment to democratic politics.
She said she was not in a position to comment on whether she believed the men had not received a fair trial, but she had "no reason to believe that".
"We don't want to cut across the judicial system in any other country," Ms Harney said.