COLOMBIA THREE: IRISH AND COLOMBIAN POLICE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001006

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KCRM EI
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA THREE: IRISH AND COLOMBIAN POLICE IN
COMMUNICATION

REF: A. DUBLIN 983

B. YOUNG-OPS CENTER E-MAILS OF 8/9

Classified By: Ambassador James C. Kenny; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) The Irish police (Garda) have sent a formal message
to the Colombian police through Interpol regarding the
Colombia Three (ref A),Emboff was told by Irish Department
of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Ken O'Leary following an
August 12 meeting attended by DOJ, the Department of Foreign
Affairs, the Attorney General's Office, and the Office of the
Taoiseach (Prime Minister). The Garda message explained
Ireland's legal framework for extradition and cited the
European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons as
an instrument under which the Colombia Three could possibly
serve in Ireland the sentences they received in Colombia.
(This point reprised an August 9 statement by Deputy Prime
Minister (Tanaiste) Mary Harney, who noted that Colombia
could accede to the Convention, as had other South American
countries (ref B).) Another instrument cited was the UN
Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, to which
Ireland and Colombia are parties, and which envisions
extradition as a possible form of legal assistance regarding
persons who assist in terrorist bombings. The Garda also
requested certified translations of Colombian court judgments
in the Colombia Three case and provided contact information
for the Irish DOJ to facilitate direct communication with its
Colombian counterpart agency. O'Leary noted that the Garda
message followed an August 11 meeting in Bogota between the
Colombian Government and the Irish Ambassador to Mexico
(having responsibility for Colombia).


2. (C) O'Leary said that the Garda continued to search for
the Colombia Three. One legal pretext for the search was the
likelihood that the three had committed offenses by entering
Ireland on false documents. Another was the Interpol "red
notice" on the three individuals, which obligated the Garda
to inform the Colombian police once the three were confirmed
to be in Ireland. O'Leary observed that the Colombian
Government had not yet requested extradition.


3. (C) DOJ Secretary General Sean Aylward reiterated
O'Leary's points in a subsequent phone conversation with the
Ambassador. Aylward stressed that the GOI wanted to show
action regarding the Colombia Three. He expressed concern,
however, that the legal considerations at play might drag out
the case. Aylward added that Deputy Prime Minister
(Tanaiste) Mary Harney, who had been acting Justice Minister,
would go on leave on August 13. This would leave Prime
Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern as acting Justice Minister
until August 18.
KENNY