Finian McGrath
Question:331 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an update on the Colombia Three and the Miami Five cases. [21359/04]
View answerWednesday, 29 September 2004
Questions (150)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the office of the prosecutor-general in Colombia lodged an appeal against the verdict which acquitted the three men on the principal charge of providing training for terrorists. That appeal is currently being considered by a panel of judges and their decision is awaited.
I met the Colombian Foreign Minister in New York last week, and I again stressed the importance of an early decision on the appeal. Minister Barco, while emphasising the independence of the courts in Colombia, indicated that she shared our wish for an early decision and that she was hopeful that the appeal would be concluded in the autumn. I am satisfied that, as a result of the representations we have made over recent months, the need to progress the matter expeditiously is accepted by the Colombian authorities.
Pending the outcome of the appeal, the three men have left the prison in Bogotá. However, the appeal judges ruled that they must remain in Colombia until the appeal is decided. We will continue to maintain contact with the Colombian authorities in this case and provide all possible consular assistance for the three men and their families.
The other case raised by the Deputy relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to conspiracy to murder, and whose appeal was heard in March of this year. The court's decision is awaited. As I have previously informed the Deputy, the Irish Government has no standing in this matter which is a bilateral consular question between the Cuban and US authorities.
Question No. 332 answered with QuestionNo. 329.