Only three parliamentarians remain on a proposed all-party Oireachtas delegation to attend the opening days of the trial of three men in Bogota, Colombia, next month.
Fianna Fáil Dublin West TD Mr John Curran quit early yesterday after colleagues had expressed "concerns about my involvement", though he insisted that he was under no pressure from the party's leadership. Fine Gael's Senator Paul Bradford has also pulled out.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Fianna Fáil Kildare South TD Mr Sean Power said the delegation was allowing itself to "be hoodwinked" by Sinn Féin's "propaganda machine".
The Department of Foreign Affairs had kept "a very close watch" on the three men, Mr James Monaghan, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr Martin McCauley, since they were arrested last August travelling on false papers, he said.
However, Mr Power's "hoodwink" charge was criticised by Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White, who is travelling to Colombia as part of the delegation. "That is an awful thing to say," she declared.
"I don't care what he said. I am going because they are fellow Irish citizens and they are entitled to basic human rights, to a fair trial and to safety in prison. El Mondelo prison is notorious."
She said that she had told the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, a week ago that she intended to travel to Colombia and he had offered no objection.
Meanwhile, the Bring Them Home campaign's spokeswoman, Ms Caitriona Ruane, said she was deeply disappointed that Mr Curran and Senator Bradford had pulled out of the trip.
"We were grateful when the two representatives agreed to travel and it is unfortunate that they now feel unable to do so," said Ms Ruane. Privately, however, the campaign is furious: "It is outrageous that some politicians have put party political interests above the safety and welfare of three Irish citizens," said one source.
The crisis surrounding the Colombia visit was sparked after the Parliamentary Labour Party decided on Wednesday that Dublin Central TD Mr Joe Costello should not travel.
Denying that he had come under pressure to withdraw, Cork East Fine Gael Senator Paul Bradford said he had agreed to travel out of a humanitarian concern to ensure that the men would get a fair trial.
Unfortunately, he said, the visit had become the subject of partisan political squabbling. "It has become a political football and it serves no purpose as a political football," he said.
"I trust that the Government's promise that this trial will be closely monitored will be honoured. I wanted all of this to be done in a cross-party fashion. Clearly that is not possible now."
Dublin North Central Independent TD Mr Finian McGrath, a member of the delegation, said he was "desperately disappointed. I am particularly disappointed by Labour's actions." He would not be "bullied off the pitch".
