Irishmen refuse to leave jail in Colombia over death fears

Three Irish republicans acquitted of training Colombian Marxist rebels are refusing to leave prison in Bogota because of fears they could be killed by death squads.

James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley, who have already spent 32 months in a Colombian jail, were told by Judge Jaime Acosta that they could leave prison if they paid a fine of $6,500 each.

At first their supporters hoped they could leave the country altogether, but now the three men have told they must remain in Colombia pending an appeal by the public prosecutor against their acquittal.

Mr Monaghan’s lawyer, Pedro Mahecha, said last night that the three men fear that if they leave prison they will be murdered by right-wing death squads, and have therefore decided not to pay their fines until the Government guarantees their safety.