Sinn Féin has welcomed comments by Minister of State Mr Tom Kitt expressing "serious concern" about prejudicial comments by senior Colombian figures in advance of the trial of the so-called Colombia Three.
In a statement yesterday Sinn Féin TD Mr Sean Crowe welcomed the fact that the Government "has been following the case closely and that their desire is to see that the men get a fair trial". The trial of the three men will resume next week.
The men, accused of training FARC guerrillas, plan to call a number of defence witnesses including an Irish diplomat who they hope will refute evidence that they were in Colombia at times between 1998 and 2001. They will also call the producer of a video they say shows one of the men was in Belfast at a time the prosecution has claimed he was in Colombia.
Others they will call include an international forensic expert, an international aid worker and a republican ex-prisoner. More than 60 sworn affidavits will also be presented in court from people including Mr Jim O'Keeffe TD, Ms Deirdre Davitt, deputy director of Foras na Gaeilge and the employers of two of the men, Mr Jim Monaghan and Mr Martin McCauley. The hearing will begin next Tuesday and last three-and-a-half days.
Mr Crowe said yesterday that since the men were arrested, Colombia's former president, current President, Attorney General and head of the armed forces had all said the men were guilty. "Only last week Colombian General Moro and a number of parliamentarians said the men were guilty."
Mr Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, told the Dáil on Thursday night that the Government had told the Colombian government that it was concerned about comments, made by senior Colombian figures, that in Ireland would be seen as prejudicial to a fair trial.
"In his meeting with the Colombian Foreign Minister last week, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, repeated our strong concern about such statements," Mr Kitt said.
He had emphasised "that the men must be considered innocent until proven guilty, and that they should be judged solely on the evidence before the court".
Mr Cowen had met the Colombian Foreign Minister three times to discuss the case. "He has requested the Colombian authorities to expedite the case to the greatest extent possible." He said the Taoiseach met the Colombian President in Dublin in June 2002 and emphasised the importance of ensuring that the men receive a fair trial.
Mr Crowe said the Government should now demand the immediate release of the men.