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17/09/2018
Fresh Search Begins For 'Disappeared' Victim Columba McVeigh
A fresh search operation is underway to locate the remains of IRA victim Columba McVeigh.
The 19-year-old, who was from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in October 1975.
He is one of 16 victims known as the 'Disappeared' who were murdered by republicans during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) said the search is taking place at a section of Bragan Bog near Emyvale, Co Monaghan.
Geoff Knupfer, the ICLVR's lead forensic investigator, said: "We remain convinced that Columba was buried in Bragan bog and over the last five years since the last unsuccessful search we have been working to refine the search area.
"That is what often has to be done when we are searching for a body that has been buried somewhere in a vast expanse of bog over 40 years ago. That's what happened in the search for Brendan Megraw, whose remains we found in October 2014 in Oristown bog, Co Meath, some 15 years after searching commenced.
"And we were close to the burial place of Seamus Ruddy in an earlier search before we recovered his remains in France in May last year.
"But 'close' is not good enough. The fact that we are back on Bragan bog for a fresh search does not mean that anyone who has information about where Columba is buried should assume that it is no longer relevant."
Out of the 16 'Disappeared', three are classed as remaining missing. They are Columba McVeigh, former monk Joe Lynskey and soldier Robert Nairac.
(LM/CM)
The 19-year-old, who was from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in October 1975.
He is one of 16 victims known as the 'Disappeared' who were murdered by republicans during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) said the search is taking place at a section of Bragan Bog near Emyvale, Co Monaghan.
Geoff Knupfer, the ICLVR's lead forensic investigator, said: "We remain convinced that Columba was buried in Bragan bog and over the last five years since the last unsuccessful search we have been working to refine the search area.
"That is what often has to be done when we are searching for a body that has been buried somewhere in a vast expanse of bog over 40 years ago. That's what happened in the search for Brendan Megraw, whose remains we found in October 2014 in Oristown bog, Co Meath, some 15 years after searching commenced.
"And we were close to the burial place of Seamus Ruddy in an earlier search before we recovered his remains in France in May last year.
"But 'close' is not good enough. The fact that we are back on Bragan bog for a fresh search does not mean that anyone who has information about where Columba is buried should assume that it is no longer relevant."
Out of the 16 'Disappeared', three are classed as remaining missing. They are Columba McVeigh, former monk Joe Lynskey and soldier Robert Nairac.
(LM/CM)
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