Convicted Colombia Three member honoured with ‘night of celebration’

Jim Monaghan given 17-year sentence for training Farc guerrillas in 2004

A night of "celebration and remembrance" has been held for veteran Republican Jim Monaghan, one of the "Colombia Three".

Mary Lou McDonald was the chairwoman of the event, which was held by Sinn Féin Dublin volunteers in the Gresham Hotel.

Monaghan, who also spoke at the event, was one of three men convicted of training Farc rebels and travelling on a false passport.

Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly fled Colombia before a 17-year sentence was imposed on them in 2004. They have never been deported to Colombia because there is no extradition treaty between the country and Ireland.

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The three men said they were in Colombia to review the peace process in the country, but the authorities there said that they had evidence the men were engaged in training guerrillas in explosives.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times