The trial of the so-called Colombia Three resumes briefly on Tuesday next when evidence will be taken from another prosecution witness, who will appear at a court in the city of Medellin because the responsible authorities cannot afford to fly him to the capital, Bogotá.
Three Irish nationals - Mr James Monaghan (56), Mr Martin McCauley (40) and Mr Niall Connolly (36) - were arrested in August 2001 on charges of training Colombia's FARC rebels in bomb-making techniques and with using false passports.
The evidence of Mr John Alexander Rodriguez Caviedes (20) will be given before a local judge instead of Dr Jairo Acosta, who normally presides over the case. In previous submissions made during the pre-trial investigation, the witness said he was a driver for a senior FARC commander before deciding to desert the rebel army.
Two Irish observers, a Dublin-based solicitor, Mr Pat Daly, and Ms Caitríona Ruane, spokeswoman for the Bring Them Home campaign, are travelling to Colombia for the hearing.
Mr Caviedes is registered with a witness protection programme and the court has been told that he was afraid to travel to Bogotá by road. However, the witness protection programme said it could not afford to fly him there.
After Mr Caviedes's evidence is heard, the trial will be adjourned until March 25th in Bogotá, when defence witnesses will appear. A number are travelling from Ireland to give evidence.
Supporters of the three accused have called a protest at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin next month because they claim the Government has failed to give the men adequate support.
Among those scheduled to speak at the protest, on March 15th, are the Independent TD, Mr Finian McGrath; Mr Seán Crowe, TD (Sinn Féin), Mr Paul Hill of the Guildford Four and a representative of the families of the three men on trial.
"We are calling on the Irish Government to protect the lives and rights of Irish citizens," Ms Ruane said. "We are disappointed they have not sent a legal observer to the trial."
Meanwhile, reports in the Colombian media, citing security sources, said the authorities believed two IRA members and four members of the Basque group ETA aided FARC rebels in the February 7th bomb attack on a Bogotá nightclub and leisure centre in which 36 people died. So far, no group has admitted responsibility for the blast.