Latest search for IRA murder victim Columba McVeigh ends
family statementRecent searches to find the remains of Columba McVeigh, who was killed by the IRA and secretly buried 50 years ago, have been unsuccessful.
The 19-year-old from Donaghmore in County Tyrone was murdered in 1975. He is one of the 17 victims of the Troubles known as the Disappeared.
The final search for Mr McVeigh’s remains was at Bragan Bog in County Monaghan. since augustafter a while review of previous operations A new area to be excavated was determined.
The Independent Commission to Locate the Remains of the Victims (ICLVR) had previously carried out six excavations at Bragan Bog and surveyed more than 26 acres of land in its search for Mr McVeigh.
‘Our hearts beat with them’
On Wednesday, ICLVR said the McVeigh family had been notified that the latest search had been unsuccessful.
ICLVR lead investigator Eamonn Henry said it was “devastating news” for the McVeigh family, so close to the 50th anniversary of his disappearance.
Mr Henry said telling the family the latest development was “heartbreaking” but they remained positive about Mr McVeigh being found.
“I wish it had happened now instead of going further.”
Speaking to BBC News NIs Good Morning Ulster programMr Henry said ICLVR would follow up on the latest information it received in the new year.
“Based on information received that he was actually buried in a different part of Bragan Bog, we are currently investigating this information in relation to another possible location,” he added.
Mr Henry said the suspicious area was close to where the last searches were conducted.
ICLVR ‘fully committed to finding Columba’
Seven searches were carried out in the Bragan Bog area for Mr McVeigh’s remains.
Mr Henry said they continued to believe the information they were working on was provided in good faith, but appealed for anyone with information to contact them as it could be a “missing piece of the puzzle”.
“Our work at Bragan Marsh is not yet done,” Mr Henry added.
He said the commission would not stop until the four remaining missing men – Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire – were found.
“This is our mission and we are working on behalf of the families, so we will not stop working until we find the four missing victims.”
Last month Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn met members of the McVeigh family at Bragan Bog and He urged anyone with information about Mr McVeigh’s remains to come forward.
On Wednesday, Benn said Columba’s family had endured “an unimaginable burden.”
“I would like to thank the investigators, forensic archaeologists and search teams for their painstaking and sensitive work, as well as the diligence and determination of the commission in locating Columba since the first search at Bragan Bog was carried out in 1999,” he added.
“My thoughts today are with the Columba family, who have endured this unimaginable burden for so many years and have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of his death.”
He said the government remains committed to the work of ICLVR.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said he hoped Columba McVeigh’s family “will finally have the consolation of being able to lay him to rest” when the commission begins its final search in August.
“I am disappointed that Columba’s remains have not been found at Bragan Bog in County Monaghan, despite the commission’s ongoing efforts.”
The Minister added that ICLVR’s role was “critical, humanitarian” and that the Irish government remained “fully committed” to supporting it.
Who are the disappeared?
the lost ones They are people who were kidnapped, killed and secretly buried by the Republicans during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The remains of four of the 17 people have not yet been found.
As well as Mr McVeigh, ICLVR is currently working on the cases of Joe Lynskey, Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.
Mr Henry said anyone with information about any of the four unsolved cases should contact ICLVR and all information would be treated in the strictest confidence.
