10 June 2004 Edition

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Kelly visits Colombia Three

Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly travelled to Colombia over the weekend at the invitation of the Bring Them Home Campaign. Speaking before departing for Bogota, where he visited the three Irishmen recently found innocent of training the FARC, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on justice issues called for Martin McCauley, Jim Monaghan and Niall Connolly to be allowed leave Colombia.

"These three men have been in prison in Colombia under threat of death for almost three years. They have been found innocent of the charge of training the FARC by a Colombian court yet they have been unable to return home to their families in Ireland.

"It is vital that the spotlight remains on this case and that the campaign for the return of the three men continues. As part of this effort I will travel to Colombia over the weekend and meet with the men.

"There is no basis for the appeal currently being mounted by the Colombian Attorney General and the men's lives are undoubtedly under threat. It is vital that the three men are allowed to leave Colombia and return home safely to their families in Ireland."


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