Inquiry ordered into Colombia 3 no-show

The trial of three Irishmen accused of being IRA activists who trained Colombian rebels has been postponed after they refused…

The trial of three Irishmen accused of being IRA activists who trained Colombian rebels has been postponed after they refused to leave their prison cells.

A judge in Bogota had been expected to rule if there was enough evidence to send them for trial.

But the men - Mr James Monaghan, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr Martin McCauley - refused to be moved from their prison cells, saying they feared for their safety.

The judge postponed the hearing until October 16th to investigate allegations guards hit the trio in an effort to force them to leave the jail.

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A prison spokeswoman denies the men were beaten as they were not required to attend the hearing.

The three suspects were arrested in Bogota's airport 14 months ago after visiting a rebel stronghold in southern Colombia, where they allegedly trained the insurgents in explosives and other terrorist techniques.

PA