Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has welcomed the Taoiseach's intervention in the case of the three republicans jailed in Colombia.
Martin McCauley, James Monaghan and Niall Connolly were convicted in April of travelling on false passports in Colombia but were found not guilty of training terrorists.
Mr Adams said today that Bertie Ahern also had a responsibility to help Irish people caught up in similar situations abroad.
He was speaking as Sinn Féin launched its manifesto for the European Elections. The manifesto commits the party to a rights-based EU and to opposing what it says is further militarisation of Europe.
Asked about Enda Kenny’s criticism of Mr Ahern’s intervention in Colombia, Mr Adams said the Fine Gael leader should note that in a similar situation the British government would have long since dispatched a minister to Colombia.
Mr Ahern put forward proposals to the President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, last weekend for resolving the case.
It is believed the Taoiseach suggested that a senior judge be appointed to review the outcome of the men’s trial.
Mr Ahern also proposed that the three be allowed to return to Ireland with a guarantee that they would go back to Colombia if the country's Attorney-General went ahead with an appeal against the terrorism verdict.
Mr Uribe told Mr Ahern he would consult senior constitutional figures in his country before responding to the request.
