Republican News · Thursday 14 November 2002

Labour pulls Costello from Colombia trip

Bring Them Home Campaign spokesperson Caitríona Ruane says she is "surprised and disappointed" at the decision by the Parliamentary Labour Party not to allow their justice spokesperson, Joe Costello, to travel to Colombia as part of a cross-party delegation to observe the trial of the three Irishmen detained in Bogota.

The Labour Party dramatically decided on Wednesday not to allow the Dublin TD to travel. Fine Gael Senator Paul Bradford, Fianna Fáil TD John Curran, Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe, Independent TD Finian McGrath and Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White have all confirmed that they will travel.

The Labour meeting took place after the campaign announced that six parliamentarians had accepted its invitation to travel to Colombia. A Labour Party press officer told An Phoblacht that the decision had been taken because the party's TDs and Senators felt there was already adequate representation from Ireland at the trial, including from the government. He added that the delegation was only going for a week, whereas the trial is due to go on for much longer. RTE's Charlie Bird later reported that Labour members had felt their attendabnce would "send the wrong message to the unionist community".

Fianna Fáil TD John Curran stressed that he was travelling out of concern for human rights.

Speaking on RTE after the meeting, Costello said that the discussion on the invitation had taken up most of the meeting but he refused to be drawn on what stance new Labour leader Pat Rabbitte had taken on the issue.

Caitríona Ruane noted Costello's comments on radio after the decision that he too was "disappointed" he would not be allowed travel. She thanked the Dublin TD for the interest he has shown and the meetings he has attended on the issue. Ruane indicated that she would be seeking a meeting with Pat Rabbitte to discuss the reasons for the withdrawal.

The parliamentarians who will be travelling have requested meetings with senior members of the Colombian government, the prosecution, the defence, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights office, the International Red Cross, and the Ombudsman's office. They will also visit Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan in the notorious El Modelo jail in Bogota.

The trip follows a series of successful fundraising events by the campaign, including a recent concert in Ravensdale that raised €17,000. It is understood the parliamentarians concerned will also make a contribution towards the cost of the visit.

The Bring Them Home Campaign has consistently outlined the difficulties of the men getting a fair trial.

"International attention is essential to ensure the safety of the men," said Ruane. "They are currently housed in one of the most dangerous jails in Colombia. We called on national and international observers to attend this trial and are very pleased that a delegation of parliamentarians will be coming over from Ireland."

Gerry Monaghan, brother of Jim Monaghan, also expressed concern for the safety of the three men. "The three families would like to thank the TDs and Senators for travelling to Colombia‚" he said.