Disappeared (Northern Ireland)

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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

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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, five of the bodies have still 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

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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

Name Location[lower-alpha 1] Age Year of disappearance Year of body being found Suspects Reference(s)
Charles Armstrong Crossmaglen 57 1981 2010 Republicans [31]
Lisa Dorrian Ballyhalbert 25 2005 Still missing Loyalists [32]
Gerard Evans County Monaghan, Ireland 24 1979 2010 Republicans [31]
Joe Lynskey Belfast 1972 Still missing Republicans [22][33][34][35]
John McClory Belfast 17 1978 1999 Republicans [22][36]
Jean McConville Belfast 38 1972 2003 Republicans [22][37]
Brendan Megraw Belfast 24 1978 2014 Republicans [22][21]
Danny McIlhone 1981 2008 Republicans [22][38]
Kevin McKee South Armagh 1972 2015 Republicans [22][39]
Brian McKinney Belfast 22 1978 1999 Republicans [22][40]
Columba McVeigh Dublin, Ireland 19 1975 Still missing Republicans [22][41][42]
Eamon Molloy Belfast 22 1975 1999 Republicans [22][43][44]
Robert Nairac Dromintee, South Armagh 29 1977 Still missing Republicans [22][45]
Gareth O'Connor Newtownhamilton 24 2003 2005 Republicans [12]
Seamus Ruddy Paris, France 32 1985 Still missing Republicans [22][46]
Eugene Simons Castlewellan, County Down 26 1981 1984 Republicans [22]
Peter Wilson Belfast 21 1973 2010 Republicans [22][47][48][49]
Seamus Wright South Armagh 1972 2015 Republicans [22][39]
  1. Location of disappearance; in Northern Ireland unless otherwise stated

References

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  4. Northern Ireland Disappeared, reuters.com; accessed 7 September 2015.
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  7. Robert Nairac profile, bbc.co.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
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  11. Gareth O'Connor profile, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
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  13. Lisa Dorrian profile, cain.ulst.ac.uk; accessed 7 September 2015.
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  19. "Adams 'at heart' of IRA's most shameful killing campaign", The Guardian, 30 September 2002.
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  30. Wright and McKee bodies located, bbc.co.uk; accessed 10 September 2015.
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