Cablegate: Ireland Response to Irish/Colombia Three

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

270941Z Sep 05

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001188

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2015
TAGS: PTER KCRM
SUBJECT: IRELAND RESPONSE TO IRISH/COLOMBIA THREE

REF: A. STATE 164051

B. BOGOTA 8816

Classified By: DCM Jonathan S. Benton, reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

1. (C) Embassy Dublin has discussed the Irish/Colombia Three
(ref A) with senior GOI officials on numerous occasions,
including with Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern on
September 12 and Justice Minister Michael McDowell on
September 10. McDowell told the Ambassador that the GOI is
investigating all its options, including whether new charges
can be brought against the Three. McDowell said that
obstacles to extradition are legal, not political. In a
September 23 meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry of Justice
Secretary General Sean Aylward said that Irish authorities

SIPDIS
had received the extradition request from Colombia (ref B).
Noting that it was still in poor shape as an Irish legal
document, he said the Ministry would "work on it." Aylward
thanked us for U.S. help facilitating the September 7 visit
to Colombia of Garda officials. He said the Irish government
would seek to get information (such as Niall Connolly's false
passport, reportedly in the Colombians' possession) to help
make a case against one or more of the three in Ireland.
Aylward said the meetings in New York between the Taoiseach
and FM Ahern and the Colombian President and others "went
well."

2. (C) Comment: The GOI was deeply embarrassed at the return
of the Irish Three. Their interest in finding a legal
mechanism to deal with them is sincere, whether through new
charges, extradition or having them serve their sentences in
Ireland. Of these three options, new charges for false use
of an Irish passport would be most likely, depending on
whether the Garda can produce evidence that would satisfy a
prosecutor. Post will continue to engage GOI officials. End
Comment.
KENNY

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