28/08/2003

Body on beach had 'bullet wound to head'

Police in the Republic of Ireland have confirmed that the body of a woman found on a Co Louth beach died from a bullet wound to the head.

Speculation mounted on Thursday that the body was that of disappeared Belfast mother, Jean McConville, 37, who was abducted from her Belfast home in 1972. It is thought she was taken away by the IRA and murdered.

The woman's body was found by a man out walking his dog along Shilling Hill beach, near Carlingford.

A post mortem examination is set to be carried out on the body however DNA tests will not confirm the identity of the woman for at least seven to eight weeks.

Commenting on the find, SDLP representative, Alban Maginness said: "Our thoughts are with the family of Jean McConville at this time. There have been many false expectations for the family over recent years and they have suffered greatly as a result.

"One hopes that these remains can be authenticated so that both Jean McConville and her family can have some peace."

Jean McConville was one of 10 so-called 'Disappeared' who were abducted by the IRA, executed and secretly buried in the early 1970's.

In 1999, the IRA offered to help uncover the bodies of those that went missing.

The bodies of Eamon Molloy, John McClory and Brian McKinney were eventually found, however, the rest of the information they gave was not precise enough to find the others.

(MB)

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