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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| O'Jihadis up for sentencing in Colombia |
| 2004-04-26 |
| The verdict is due in the case of three alleged IRA men charged with training rebels and travelling on false passports in Colombia. The trial of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McAuley ended in Bogota more than eight months ago. They are accused of training left-wing Farc rebels in the use of explosives and using false documentation. The men were arrested in August 2001 as they stepped off a plane from an area which was a Farc stronghold. Their arrest led to speculation that dissident Irish republicans had formed links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). The three men had previously refused to attend the trial because of fears for their safety, but later in the trial they protested their innocence in addresses to the non-jury court. Last Friday a journalist following the case, Mark Duffy said he had spoken to the judge who had told him he would deliver his verdict on Monday. If the men are found guilty, they face a maximum 20 years in prison. Mr McAuley is from Northern Ireland, while the other two are from the Irish Republic. Nowt better than watching these idiots cower in a Colombian courtroom. Twenty years sounds fine to me. Take your McJihad and stick it in your... |
| Posted by:Howard UK |
| #4 Now I may be new arround here but a true IRA - Jihad connection...?? I have read some IRA members trained at Iranian backed training camps in Lebanon.. but a true conection? If anyone could elaborate... |
| Posted by: Pargol 2004-04-26 9:20:37 PM |
| #3 "Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Da witnesses is all dead!" |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-04-26 7:46:00 PM |
| #2 Three Irishmen have been acquitted on charges they trained Colombian rebels but were jailed for travelling on false passports and identity documents. The men were given sentences ranging from two years and two months to three years and eight months and will be expelled from Colombia once their terms have been completed, said court official Emilia Montanez. Defendants James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley were not present as the verdict was read out following their nine-month trial in the capital Bogota. The three were arrested in August 2001, after they left a rebel safe haven, which had been granted by the government during peace talks which later collapsed in February, 2002. Monaghan was sentenced to three years and eight months, McCauley to three years and eight days and Connolly to two years and two months. The court statement did not say whether the men would be credited with time served in prison during the trial. Not enough evidence or witnesses willing to testify to prove they trained anyone. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-04-26 1:10:59 PM |
| #1 20 years in a Columbian prision,sounds good to me,Howard. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-04-26 10:15:37 AM |