Fianna Fail man to attend 'Colombia 3' trial

A Fianna Fáil MEP and an Australian MP are to travel to Bogota, Colombia, for the resumption of the trial of three Irishmen on Monday.

Mr Niall Andrews of Fianna Fáil and Mr Paul Lynch will join an international team of observers at the trial of Mr Niall Connolly, Mr Martin McCauley and Mr Jim Monaghan. Monday will see the trial's summing up.

A group of 14 international observers will attend the trial, comprising politicians, lawyers and human rights activists from Europe, Australia and the United States.

The three men have been in custody in Colombia since August 11th, 2001, when they were arrested and charged with training FARC guerillas and using false documentation. They strenuously deny being involved in the training of the group.

Since their trial began on October 4th last, it has been adjourned on seven separate occasions.

The "Bring Them Home Campaign", a group set up in defence of the three men, said it expected Monday's proceedings to be the final stage of the trial.

The group's chairwoman, Ms Caitriona Ruane, said: "This is a deeply flawed case, no evidence has been presented to the court, prosecution witnesses have perjured themselves on the stand and have obviously been schooled by the Colombian military. These three men should have been home with their families two years ago".