Three Irishmen accused of training FARC rebels in Colombia on behalf of the IRA have stayed away from their trial, which got underway in Bogota this afternoon.
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Mr Niall Connolly, Mr James Monaghan and Mr Martin McCauley shortly after their arrest last year
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Mr James Monaghan, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr Martin McCauley were arrested at Bogota's airport 15 months ago after visiting a rebel safe haven in southern Colombia. They face up to 28 years in prison if convicted. The three have stayed away from previous hearings fearing for their safety.
The first prosecution witness Major Carlos Eduardo Matiz, a Major in the military intelligence branch of the Colombian Army, told the trial today there were similarities in the techniques used by FARC rebels and the IRA.
He said the methods, particularly the use of gas cylinders and other unconventional mechanisms employed by FARC were "quite similar" to those used by the IRA.
When asked by lawyers for the prosecution, if he had any direct knowledge of the IRA training the FARC, the Major replied: "As their modus operandi is similar to the IRA's, it could be said that it was the IRA that gave them the gas-cylinder system."
Major Matiz told the court he had received no pressure, advice or offers in relation to his testimony. He had been a paratrooper, then moved to military intelligence where he served as a senior officer and was currently on study leave at a military college. He knew that the accused men had been arrested by the military police on charges of training "FARC bandits".
Prosecutors were expected to present evidence the men had repeatedly visited rebels before their arrests.
A dozen protesters greeted an Irish delegation as they walked into the Bogota court. The delegates are observing the trial because of their concerns that the three men would not receive a fair hearing.
The three suspects, who were travelling on false passports, insist they were in Colombia to observe the peace process between former President Andres Pastrana and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
A spokeswoman for the Bring Them Home campaign said the trio would not be attending today's hearing. Standing outside the court, Ms Caitriona Ruane said the defence plans to present two alibi witnesses - Ms Sile Maguire, an Irish diplomat in Mexico, and Mr Ross O'Sullivan.
The defence will also present two character witnesses - Mr Laurence McKeown, a former IRA prisoner, and Mr Danny Morrison, a former publicity director for Sinn Féin - to refute prosecution claims that the men visited Colombia repeatedly, she said.
Ms Ruane said the three suspects had not yet decided whether they would attend the hearing tomorrow and Wednesday.
She also said the defence plans to bring in a British forensic expert to refute prosecution evidence that the men had explosive residue on their clothes when they were arrested.
She expected that issue to come up during a later phase of the trial, which will most likely be held in January. Ms Ruane repeated concerns Bring Them Home activists have repeated throughout the months-long process.
"This case is being politicised everywhere in the world in an attempt to destroy the Irish peace process," she said. "We won't allow the Irish peace process to be destroyed. We want peace in Ireland and in Colombia."
The delegation includes Mr Paul Hill, one of the Guildford Four. "The chances of these three men surviving are very, very slim if they are convicted," said Mr Hill.
The segment of the trial which began today is scheduled to last three days. The next portion of the trial will likely be scheduled for January, lawyers said.