The Government is looking for a way to hand over three Irish fugitives from Colombian justice despite the lack of an extradition treaty between the two countries, a top Irish diplomat said last night
"Ireland will meet its obligations under international law," Art Agnew, the Irish ambassador to Mexico who is also responsible for Colombia, said yesterday after talks with Colombian vice president Francisco Santos in the capital, Bogota.
Art Agnew (left) Irish Ambassador to Mexico who is also responsible for Colombia, meets with Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos in Bogota last night. Photograph: AP
Mr Agnew acknowledged that the lack of a treaty between the two countries "presents a problem" but insisted "there could be other (international) mechanisms" that would permit the three men's extradition and the two sides were looking into all the possibilities.
He said that ultimately a ruling on extradition would be left up to Irish courts.
Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and Jim Monaghan were convicted of training left-wing rebels in terrorist tactics and sentenced to 17 years behind bars. But the trio disappeared eight months ago before resurfacing in Ireland last week.
Mr Santos said the meeting - the first direct encounter between the two governments since the trio resurfaced - was very friendly and he was confident a solution to the "problematic" issue would be reached.
"What we've found from the Irish government is its complete willingness to work with us to find a way out of this, and that's what one hopes for," the Colombian vice president said.
Earlier this week, Mr Santos said that if Ireland did not extradite the three men, it should at least force them to serve their sentences in an Irish prison.
Tánaiste Mary Harney said on Tuesday that the three would not escape punishment and might serve sentences in Ireland.
Mr Santos and Mr Agnew would not indicate whether this possibility was discussed during their half-hour meeting.
Gardaí have yet to locate the three men.