Disappeared (Northern Ireland)

The Disappeared is a term which refers to people believed to have been abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.[1] The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains is in charge of locating the remaining bodies,[2] and was led by forensic archaeologist John McIlwaine.[3]

Background

17 people, all Catholics, including one British Army officer, all males, except for Mrs. Jean McConville, are believed to have been kidnapped and killed by republicans during the Troubles. Another, Lisa Dorrian, a young Catholic woman, is believed to have been abducted by loyalists.[4][5][6] The Provisional IRA admitted to being involved in the forced disappearance of nine of the sixteen – Eamon Molloy, Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, and Danny McIlhone. British Army officer, Robert Nairac, who disappeared from South Armagh, was a Mauritius-born Roman Catholic.[7][8] The organisation said they could only accurately locate the body of one of their victims, but gave rough ideas for the remaining eight.[9][10] As of September 2015, only five bodies have not been found. Gareth O'Connor,[11] is believed to have been killed by the IRA after the Good Friday Agreement.[12] Lisa Dorrian, a young Catholic woman,[13] is believed to have been killed by Loyalists, taking the total number of 'Disappeared' up to eighteen.[14]

History

1970s

Jean McConville disappeared in December 1972. In October 2014 a man was arrested in connection with her murder,[15] and two further men were arrested in December 2014.[16]

Peter Wilson (aged 21), a native of West Belfast, with five siblings, was described as "a vulnerable man with learning difficulties".[17] He was abducted by the IRA in the summer of 1973, somewhere in the St James area of Belfast, killed and secretly buried at Waterfoot, County Antrim.[18]

Columba McVeigh, a 17-year-old from Donaghmore, County Tyrone, disappeared in 1975. The IRA allege he had confessed to being a British Army agent, instructed to infiltrate the IRA.[19]

Brendan Megraw disappeared in 1978. In August 2014 a bog in County Meath was searched for his body,[20] with human remains discovered in September.[21]

Gerard Evans, 24, was a man from Crossmaglen who disappeared while hitchhiking in County Monaghan in March 1979.[22] In March 2008 a map was given to Evans' aunt. In 2008, the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains appealed for more information regarding his disappearance.[23] Remains were found in County Louth in October 2010,[24] which were later confirmed as being Evans' in November 2010.[25] An alleged member of the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade told the Sunday Tribune that Evans was executed for being an informer.[26]

1980s

Charles Armstrong was a 57-year-old father-of-five who went missing in Crossmaglen while walking to mass in 1981; his car was later found in Dundalk.[22] Armstrong's family began a fresh, private search for his remains in October 2003.[27] They were located in County Monaghan, Ireland in July 2010.[28]

2000s

In March 2005 Lisa Dorrian, a 25-year-old Catholic, disappeared after attending a party at a caravan park in Ballyhalbert. She is believed to have been taken by Loyalists.[14][29]

In September 2015 the bodies of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee were found in a bog in Coghalstown, County Meath, Republic of Ireland.[30]

List of Disappeared

NameLocation[lower-alpha 1]AgeYear of disappearanceYear of body being foundSuspectsReference(s)
Charles ArmstrongCrossmaglen5719812010Republicans[31]
Lisa DorrianBallyhalbert252005Still missingLoyalists[32]
Gerard EvansCounty Monaghan, Ireland2419792010Republicans[31]
Joe LynskeyBelfast 1972Still missingRepublicans[22][33][34][35]
John McCloryBelfast1719781999Republicans[22][36]
Jean McConvilleBelfast3819722003Republicans[22][37]
Brendan MegrawBelfast2419782014Republicans[22][21]
Danny McIlhone 19812008Republicans[22][38]
Kevin McKeeSouth Armagh 19722015Republicans[22][39]
Brian McKinneyBelfast2219781999Republicans[22][40]
Columba McVeighDublin, Ireland191975Still missingRepublicans[22][41][42]
Eamon MolloyBelfast2219751999Republicans[22][43][44]
Robert NairacDromintee, South Armagh291977Still missingRepublicans[22][45]
Gareth O'ConnorNewtownhamilton2420032005Republicans[12]
Seamus RuddyParis, France321985Still missingRepublicans[22][46]
Eugene SimonsCastlewellan, County Down2619811984Republicans[22]
Peter WilsonBelfast2119732010Republicans[22][47][48][49]
Seamus WrightSouth Armagh 19722015Republicans[22][39]
  1. ↑ Location of disappearance; in Northern Ireland unless otherwise stated

References

  1. ↑ "About the Disappeared". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Never lose heart, 'disappeared' families told". BBC News. 4 June 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Disappeared: Archaeologist John McIlwaine dies". BBC News. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Northern Ireland Disappeared, reuters.com; accessed 7 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "The Disappeared". Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Disappeared issue 'a festering wound' says McGuinness". BBC News. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Robert Nairac profile, bbc.co.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Profiles of the 'disappeared'". BBC News. 28 May 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "'Disappeared' return to haunt Ireland's conscience". BBC News. 7 June 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "IRA: No more clues on 'disappeared'". BBC News. 1 June 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Gareth O'Connor profile, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Gareth O'Connor profile". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  13. ↑ Lisa Dorrian profile, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
  14. 1 2 Henry McDonald (31 July 2005). "Looking for Lisa". The Observer. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Jean McConville murder: 73-year-old man arrested in Dunmurry". BBC News. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Jean McConville murder: Two men arrested over 'Disappeared' death". BBC News. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Peter Wilson: 'Disappeared' by the IRA, found at the beach his family treasured". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Adams 'at heart' of IRA's most shameful killing campaign", The Guardian, 30 September 2002.
  20. ↑ "Remains The Disappeared: Meath bog to be searched for Brendan Megraw". BBC News. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  21. 1 2 "The Disappeared: Human remains found in search for Brendan Megraw". BBC News. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Who were the 'Disappeared'?". BBC News. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "Appeal from Disappeared searchers". BBC News. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Family of "Disappeared" Gerry Evans hope for closure". BBC News. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "Remains were 'Disappeared' Crossmaglen man Gerry Evans". BBC News. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  26. ↑ Suzanne Breen (17 October 2010). "Masked IRA man's map leads to body in Louth". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  27. ↑ "Fresh 'Disappeared' search". BBC News. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  28. ↑ "Widow's relief as remains found in 'Disappeared' search". BBC News. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  29. ↑ Rebecca Black (6 November 2013). "Lisa Dorrian: Disappeared Jean McConville's son urges unionist leaders to press loyalist paramilitaries over what happened to missing woman". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  30. ↑ Wright and McKee bodies located, bbc.co.uk; accessed 10 September 2015.
  31. 1 2 "RTE Special report". RTE News. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Lisa Dorrian profile". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  33. ↑ "Commission to investigate Joe Lynskey death". BBC News. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  34. ↑ "Forty years later, IRA finally admits to man’s ‘execution'". Belfast Telegraph. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  35. ↑ "Buried Secrets". The Pensive Quill. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "Body finds encourage searchers". BBC News. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  37. ↑ "Jean McConville's daughter recalls mother's abduction by IRA". BBC News. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  38. ↑ "Family of IRA victim 'at peace'". BBC News. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  39. 1 2 Rosie Cowan (30 September 2002). "Adams 'at heart' of IRA's most shameful killing campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  40. ↑ "'My tears for Brian'". BBC News. 17 July 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  41. ↑ "Columba McVeigh: Brother calls for more information from IRA". BBC News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  42. ↑ "Columba McVeigh". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "'Disappeared' victim identified". BBC News. 20 July 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  44. ↑ "A prayer before dying: IRA took priest to Disappeared victim before murder". BBC News. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  45. ↑ "McGuinness in Nairac body appeal". BBC News. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  46. ↑ "Family of INLA murder man misled". BBC News. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  47. ↑ "Fresh 'Disappeared' dig for Peter Wilson announced". BBC News. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  48. ↑ "Remains were 'Disappeared' man Peter Wilson's". BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  49. ↑ "Inquest into death of 'Disappeared' man Peter Wilson". BBC News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

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