Four men who admitted their part in kidnapping a dissident republican should "make themselves available to the court", Martin McGuinness has said.
Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, the Sinn Fein MP said the men had nothing to gain.
They failed to turn up in court last week to be sentenced.
The men had pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of Bobby Tohill from a city centre bar in 2004. The police blamed the operation on the IRA.
"I think what they should do is to recognise that they are placing themselves, their families at a particular disadvantage," said Mr McGuinness.
"There is no gain for them whatsoever. What they should clearly do is present themselves to face the charges that they pleaded guilty on."
The men were released on bail last December and were expected to appear in court last Friday.
Two of the men, who are all from Belfast, are Gerard McCrory, 33, from Dermott Hill Road and Harry Fitzsimmons, 36, from Spamount Street.
The other two are Liam Rainey, 31, from New Barnsley Crescent and Thomas Tolan, 34, from Ballymurphy Parade.
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