US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1006

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, CI3 
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