The Garda Commissioner has not yet decided whether officers investigating the "Colombia Three" will travel to the South American country despite yesterday's insistence by the Minister for Justice such a trip was now a certainty.
For the second day running, the Garda cast doubt on an assertion by Mr McDowell in relation to whether gardaí will go to Colombia.
Mr McDowell said on radio yesterday: "I was told at the most senior level of the Garda Síochána that they were definitely going to do it [travel to Colombia] and I could quote them on that."
On Newstalk 106 he described as "inaccurate" and as "spin" a report in The Irish Timesyesterday, that gardaí had cast doubt on his statement that a Garda visit to Colombia was "probable".
But when asked to comment yesterday on Mr McDowell's statement that he had been told "at the most senior level" that a visit was "definite", a spokesman for Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy made it clear that this decision had not yet been made.
"Gardaí are of the opinion that it may be beneficial for officers to go to Colombia," the commissioner's spokesman told The Irish Times. "If that remains the position we will definitely go."
It is understood that no decision will be made until gardaí decide whether there is information of value that they can glean in Colombia, and they have not yet made this assessment.
"The Colombia Three" - Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, who announced their return to Ireland on August 5th - were convicted on appeal in Colombia of training left-wing Farc guerrillas and sentenced to 17 years each.
They were also convicted of travelling on false passports but were judged to have served their sentences while awaiting trial.