A senior Irish diplomat has sworn an affidavit saying she was in the presence of one of three Irishmen in Cuba when Colombian authorities say the three were in Colombia training FARC rebels.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman confirmed Ms Síle Magure, the first secretary for the Irish embassy in Mexico, says in an affidavit she was at an event in Cuba where one of the men was present.
Mr Niall Connolly, Mr Jim Monaghan and Mr Martin McCauley were arrested at Bogota's international airport last August. British and Colombian police say they are members of the IRA.
According to a report in the Irish Independent,Ms Maguire will be called to give evidence in the trial of the men which starts in Colombia tomorrow.
The three face up to 20 years in prison and are being held in a high-security jail in Bogota. They have denied IRA links and have accused foreign intelligence agencies of inventing the charges to derail the peace process.
The men, who were travelling on false passports, told prosecutors they were in Colombia to enjoy the wildlife and to observe a now-defunct peace process which was aimed at ending Colombia's 38-year-old guerrilla war.
Campaigners fighting to secure the three men's release claim it is impossible for justice to be done. Vital forensic evidence was not collected on their arrest, they claim.
Ms Caitriona Ruane, who is heading the "Bring Them Home Campaign," insisted the court action should not be allowed to proceed.
She said: "The lawyers for the three men are very concerned that they will not receive a fair trial and that their case has already been prejudiced by public comments made by senior political and judicial figures in Colombia.
"It's also important to note that the men will be tried in a one judge, no jury court and that the country is under a state of emergency".
