Lawyers and supporters of the "Colombia Three" indicated yesterday that they were not prepared to make a €17,000 cash payment to secure the release of the men because adequate security guarantees had not been given by the Colombian authorities.
Speaking at a news conference on her way into La Modelo Prison to visit the three Irishmen, Ms Caitríona Ruane of the Bring Them Home Campaign said: "What is the point of paying if the men are then out on the street and can't enjoy their freedom?" They had met the Colombian authorities yesterday morning to seek a "comprehensive security plan" for the protection of the released prisoners. "We have not received the response we expected," Ms Ruane said.
Her sentiments were echoed by a defence lawyer, Mr Pedro Mahecha who said: "What is the point of paying if the Irishmen cannot enjoy their freedom?" The money is roughly equivalent to a bail payment.
The payment is expected to come, in the first instance, from the Irish Government, on a refundable basis. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, speaking by telephone from Dublin, said there were precedents for advancing sums of money to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad, provided guarantees were forthcoming that it would be repaid.
He indicated that this could apply in the present instance but, "we haven't put up any money yet. We do have concerns about their safety and that must be paramount."
The three Irishmen, James Monaghan (58), Martin McCauley (41) and Niall Connolly (38) were cleared this week on the grave charge of training the FARC guerrillas in bomb-making techniques and convicted of the lesser offence of using false passports.
Under the terms of the verdict in this high-profile case, Judge Jairo Acosta would have discretion to suspend their sentences on the passports charge provided a bail payment of approximately €17,000 was lodged to the court.
The extent of the security threat to the men is impossible to assess precisely. The main danger to their safety would probably come from right-wing paramilitaries who are said to be resentful that the Irishmen are likely to go free, while they themselves are under threat of extradition to the US on drugs offences.
The leadership of the paramilitaries has been involved in a "peace process" with the Colombian Government but, in recent weeks, there has been an internal upheaval in their ranks and wilder, less-disciplined elements have come to the fore.
The Colombian authorities reportedly offered to place two security guards on the men's hotel, once they got out of prison, but this was not deemed sufficient protection.
The Colombian Attorney General, Mr Luis Camilo Osorio, has declared his intention to lodge an appeal against the verdict.
One of the issues under discussion was believed to be, whether the men could leave the country while such an appeal process was under way.
There was an unconfirmed report that Judge Acosta himself had been provided with security protection in the wake of his verdict, which went contrary to the prevailing mood among the conservative elements in Colombia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs continued to speak by telephone to its network of contacts in the Colombian Government and prisons administration.
It is understood that the Colombian authorities are, by and large, not seeking to keep the men in the country, and would be happy if a legally-correct way could be found as soon as possible to implement the Court's order for their deportation.
There is understood to be some unease among relatives of the men that there is no Irish diplomatic representative currently in Bogota, other than the Honorary Consul, Mr Carlos Gomez. Irish interests are being represented on the ground by the Dutch Embassy.
Meanwhile, Ms Ruane, who is also a Sinn Fein MLA for South Down, said in a statement: "There is no safe place for these men in Colombia. The legal process is slow, and bureaucratic.
"We cannot accept a situation where the men are in this country upon release for any length of time. This is not an option."
The Colombian authorities should stop "playing games with all our lives".