Irishmen may be deported from Colombia next week

Three Irishmen being held in Colombia on suspicion of assisting local FARC rebels may be deported next week, according to "judicial…

Three Irishmen being held in Colombia on suspicion of assisting local FARC rebels may be deported next week, according to "judicial sources".

However, it the men are deported, it is unclear where they will be sent. The Colombian authorities appear to be faced with a number of options if they decide to deport them.

Sources indicated the three men would not automatically be sent to their country of nationality. The British government may specifically request their extradition.

Mr James Monaghan, Mr Martin McCauley and Mr Niall Connelly who were arrested in Bogota earlier this week have denied having links with either the Provisional IRA or Colombian guerrillas.

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Sinn Féin has again denied a report the Mr Connelly - originally from south Dublin - was a party member after a Cuban ministry claim that he was "the official representative of Sinn Féin for Cuba and Latin America."

Sinn Fein MLA Francie Molloy told BBC Radio today: "I have been in Sinn Féin for over 20 years and I have never heard of Sinn Féin having a contact in Latin America or any particular role in it.

"We have offices in Washington and London and Brussels and we are based in different locations, but this is not one of the locations I have ever heard talk of.

"There is nothing to stop anyone living in Cuba or any other country and being republican, but to say that they are Sinn Fein representatives is an entirely different role.

"To be that, they would have to be appointed by Sinn Fein, and I know of no appointment by Sinn Fein of a Latin American spokesperson or representative."

The men were arrested in Bogota on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The three say they were in the country as tourists.