Irishmen cleared
The week's news at a glance.
Bogotá
A judge this week acquitted three suspected Irish Republican Army members of charges that they showed Colombian rebels how to make better bombs. The men—James Monaghan, Niall Connolly, and Martin McCauley—were arrested three years ago, leaving a rebel stronghold in the jungle. They maintained they were only there “to get to know the people, the natural beauty, and the peace process.” The arrests sparked accusations that the IRA was exporting violence, but Irish politicians and other supporters rallied to their side. The men were convicted of traveling with false passports, but their sentences were shorter than the time already spent in jail, so the judge ordered them freed once they had paid $6,500 fines. Prosecutors said they would appeal.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 drawn-out cartoons about the ongoing government shutdownCartoon Artists take on government employee cosplay, which side blinks first, and more
-
Political cartoons for November 1Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include insurance premiums, early voting in NYC, and more
-
Salted caramel and chocolate tart recipeThe Week Recommends Delicious dessert can be made with any biscuits you fancy