Vol. 554 No. 5
465 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Colombia Three case (details supplied); and if all efforts will be made to ensure a fair trial and the safety of the three persons is protected. [15456/02]
466 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the adverse publicity surrounding the trial of the Colombia Three; if his attention has further been drawn to the death threats to the men and their lawyers; and if he will send observers to ensure a fair trial. [15457/02]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together.
Since the arrest of the three men I have been closely following this case. My Department has been active in providing consular assistance to the men including visits by consular officials from our Embassy in Mexico and assistance to representatives of the men's families, some of whom I met recently.
We have consistently made representations to the Colombian authorities at political and diplomatic levels to ensure that the men are held in safe accommodation and that they have satisfactory living conditions and have adequate access to their lawyers. I raised this matter most recently with the Colombian Foreign Minister in New York in September.
I am aware of the media interest in this case and I have emphasised to successive Colombian Foreign Ministers the importance of ensuring that the men receive a fair trial. In this regard, the Government will be represented at the forthcoming hearing by a diplomatic officer from the Embassy in Mexico acting as an observer.
I deplore the death threats against the legal representatives of the three men and I have asked our ambassador to convey my concern in this regard to the Colombian authorities in Bogota.
My Department will continue to monitor this case very closely and to provide all possible consular assistance to the three men.
