Colombia Three verdict expected 'within days'

Three Irishmen accused of training Marxist rebels in Colombia could receive the verdict from their trial within days, it was claimed today.

Ms Caitríona Ruane, who headed the Bring Them Back Home campaign for the men, spoke to ireland.comwhile en route to Colombia and said she thought there was the "strong possibility" of a verdict but warned "they had been down this road before" and that a verdict had been expected in March but did not materialise.

The South Down MLA said from Paris: "There are indications that we will be getting a verdict within the next couple of days. However we have been down this route before in March.

She said there were indications that the verdict could be delivered either Friday (tomorrow) or on Monday.

"Eighteen months ago the trial began. Eighteen months ago the men began waiting for a verdict. The trial concluded nine months ago. Obviously we are hoping we get the right verdict and the men are able to leave Colombia safely," she said.

Mr Martin McCauley, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr James Monaghan were arrested by a military detachment at Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001. The three had come from the demilitarised zone which was under the control of the FARC rebels at the time.

It is believed that if Mr Niall Connolly, Mr Martin McCauley and Mr James Monaghan are convicted they could face up to 20 years in prison in Colombia.

The Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos faced protests and parliamentary criticism when in Dublin last month over the case and met with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.