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Bring Them Home Campaign Organises Protest Outside Department of Foreign Affiars national |
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news report
 Thursday March 13, 2003 13:32 by Dataflow
 Calls on Irish government to publicly stand up for rights of Irish citizens The Bring Them Home Campaign is organising a protest outside the Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday March 15, 2003 at 2.30 p.m. The speakers include Paul Hill (Guildford 4) Finian McGrath T.D, Sean Crowe T.D, Caitriona Ruane and Dan Connolly. The Bring Them Home Campaign is organising a protest outside the Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday March 15, 2003 at 2.30 p.m. The speakers include Paul Hill (Guildford 4) Finian McGrath T.D, Sean Crowe T.D, Caitriona Ruane and Dan Connolly. Caitriona Ruane spokesperson for the Bring Them Home Campaign said 'The trial in Colombia is a farce, three Irish citizens have been held for 19 months in some of the most dangerous jails in the world. The trial began in October 2002 and has stopped and started 5 times since then. Yet we have only had 4 prosecution witnesses during that time. Each one worse than the previous one.' It is obvious that the Colombian military are putting up 'prepared witnesses' who contradict themselves under cross examination. It was so 'The Colombian State is fabricating a case against these three men and a miscarriage of justice is occurring as we speak. The Irish Government must intervene publicly to stop this farce. They have to stop pretending that Colombia is a democratic country with a 'normal' legal system.' Paul Hill (Guildford 4) said 'I was 13 years in jail before I was visited by any representative of any Irish Government. When they did intervene, (albeit 13 years too late) their intervention was very significant and contributed towards getting us released. I am calling on the Irish government to intervene in this case now, to stop a miscarriage of justice happening. I hope that the Irish Government has learned the lessons from our case and that these men do not suffer the same injustice as we did. It is time the Irish Government found the moral backbone to stand up for Irish citizens instead of hiding in the corner hoping it will all go away.' For further information contact Caitriona Ruane on + 353 86 8311311 |
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Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7they knew the risks, tough shit
So you are a supporter of the Columbian Justice System where Trade Unionists are shot down like dogs?
Why were they there? I dont know and neither do you. But I suspect you know well the way in which the US client government operates.
SF can have a wee word in Bushs ear at the weekend to see what he can do to help the lads out
I find the snobbery of the comments regarding the Columbian justice system sickening. It seems to be accepted without question that the men cannot get a fair trial because of the inbuilt bias of the columbian justice system. At this point they have been convicted of nothing. If they are convicted then feel free to criticise the excercise of justice in the columbia. However what you are proposing is that they not be tried at all on the basis that they can never receive a fair trial in Columbia.
What scares them most of all is if they are convicted they can look forward to a long, long period in jail without the prospect of release under Good Friday.
If they are convicted that's what they deserve.
Considering it's the Sinn Fein crowd that are protesting the most about their upcoming trial, they must be connected. And to be honest, their presence in Columbia under such dodgey circumstances was comparable to "a puppy standing next to a pile of poo".
But that's for the trial to decide!!
However consider this:
How would we feel if some chaps from abroad were arrested on suspicion of training some terrorists and their home country demanded that they were released without a trial? Pretty angry I'll bet.
"I find the snobbery of the comments regarding the Columbian justice system sickening"
With respect read the above and if you can´t see how corrupt and twisted the Columbian justice system is then read it and again until you.
After 3 times even should get the point.
The only "proof" of a crime that has been brought against these men is that they had false passports enough to get deported that´s it.
And with all due respect FARC don´t seem to need to be trained by the provos.
"Considering it's the Sinn Fein crowd that are protesting the most about their upcoming trial, they must be connected."
These men are republicans the reason why other republicans are campaigning for there is obvious they shouldn´t be kept over there.
And if they weren´t republicans then it wouldn´t be just SF but it would probably include SF.
I for one will be attending the demo on Saturday.
When do Irish people in this country stand up for there fellow citizens - how long do they have to languish in a foreign jail before the nation backs there protest. Just think of the Maquire 7, Birmigham 6 etc, Sinn Fein were at the foremost of the struggle to get them released, does that mean they were actually guilty as some of the right wing British media would like to portray.
The evidence is minimal - false passports, OK who can say they dont know anybody who didnt use false details to get into the States in the 80s?
Innocent until proven guilty is the cornerstone of Irish law, if people thought that the 3 would get a fair trial I dont think large sections of Irish society would back this campaign.