Finian McGrath
Ceist:180 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding persons (details supplied); and if and when they will be returned safely to Ireland. [28438/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 November 2004
Ceisteanna (133)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, following the decision in the case by Judge Acosta on 26 April 2004, 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.
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. In a letter to the Taoiseach last July, in response to the representations made by the Taoiseach at his meeting with President Uribe on 29 May in Guadalajara, the president indicated that he was hopeful of an early decision in the appeal but he also emphasised that he could not guarantee this because of the independence of the judiciary in Colombia.
In the past week, I have written to Foreign Minister Barco to again stress to her the importance of an early decision in the appeal. When she met my predecessor at the United Nations in New York last September, she indicated that she shared our wish for an early decision and, while emphasising the independence of the courts in Colombia, was hopeful that the appeal would be concluded some time in the autumn.