Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, prior to sending a personal message to the Colombian Foreign Minister reiterating the desirability of facilitation of the early departure from Colombia of persons referred to by him in Question No. 3 of 19 May 2004, his attention had been drawn to the fact that the persons were participating in the exchange of know-how in terrorism and explosives for massive amounts of cash, apparently to be spent on distorting democratic processes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6338/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In the case referred to by the Deputy, the initial decision of the court on 26 April 2004 was to acquit the individuals concerned on the charge of training terrorists. It also permitted that they be released from prison under "conditional freedom". Due to serious concerns for the safety of the three men, my predecessor sent a message on 30 April 2004 to the Columbian Foreign Minister stressing our concern for their safety and suggesting that the facilitation of the early departure of the three men from Columbia was the best way to assure their security. The decision to send the message to the Columbian Foreign Minister was taken exclusively on consular grounds, in light of the concerns for the safety of the men.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Prosecutor General lodged an appeal against the initial court decision and the decision was overturned on 16 December 2004.