Supporters of the three Irishmen facing terrorist charges in the Colombian capital, Bogota, have complained that a key prosecution witness is being allowed to give evidence in writing, in another city, and will not be subject to verbal cross-examination.
Mr James Monaghan (56), Mr Martin McCauley (40) and Mr Niall Connolly (36) are being held in a Colombian prison as they await the resumption of their trial over three days on February 5th, 6th and 7th.
They were arrested at Bogota's El Dorado airport in August 2001 and subsequently charged with training left-wing FARC rebels in bomb-making techniques and with using false passports.
The trial was adjourned in early December, due to the failure of two key prosecution witnesses to appear. The court was told that one of the witnesses, Mr Edwin Giovanny Rodriguez, was afraid to travel to Bogota, and the other, Mr John Alexander Rodrigues Caviedes, had gone missing, despite being in a witness-protection programme.
It is understood that arrangements have now been made to bring Mr Rodriguez to Bogota when the trial resumes. Mr Caviedes has since been found but the authorities in charge of the witness-protection programme have reportedly informed the trial judge that they cannot afford to bring him to Bogota.
Campaigners on behalf of the three Irishmen said yesterday that Judge Jairo Acosta, who is hearing the case, "informed the defence lawyers for the three men that a judge in Medellin, another city in the north of Colombia, will take written evidence from Mr Caviedes. Defence lawyers have been asked to submit their questions to Mr Caviedes in writing."
Ms Caitríona Ruane, of the Bring Them Home Campaign, said in a statement: "This is farcical, first they cannot find him, now they have found him, but they cannot afford to bring him to Bogota. An air fare from Medellin to Bogota costs $200.
"Mr Caviedes is a 'key witness' and it is essential that our lawyers have the opportunity to cross-examine him. They have not even told us when, where or by whom his evidence is to be taken. This is supposed to be a public trial."
The three have been moved from Bogota's La Modelo prison to the high-security Combita prison, 90 miles from Bogota.
Ms Ruane complained that prison authorities had taken all their books from the three men, "claiming they are subversive".