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[edit]

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[edit]

1970s[edit]

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]

Brendan Megraw disappeared in 1978. In August 2014 a bog in County Meath was searched for his body,[17] with human remains discovered in September.[18]

Gerard Evans, 24, disappeared while hitchhiking in County Monaghan, Ireland in March 1979.[19]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.[20] Remains were found in County Louth in October 2010,[21] which were later confirmed as being Evans' in November 2010.[22]

1980s[edit]

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.[19] Armstrong's family began a fresh, private search for his remains in October 2003.[23] They were located in County Monaghan, Ireland in July 2010.[24]

2000s[edit]

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][25]

In September 2015 the bodies of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee were found in a bog in Coghalstown, County Meath, Republic of Ireland.[26]

List of Disappeared[edit]

Name Location[a] Age Year of disappearance Year of body being found Suspects Reference(s)
Charles Armstrong Crossmaglen 57 1981 2010 Republicans [27]
Lisa Dorrian Ballyhalbert 25 2005 Still missing Loyalists [28]
Gerard Evans County Monaghan, Ireland 24 1979 2010 Republicans [27]
Joe Lynskey Belfast 1972 Still missing Republicans [19][29][30][31]
John McClory Belfast 17 1978 1999 Republicans [19][32]
Jean McConville Belfast 38 1972 2003 Republicans [19][33]
Brendan Megraw Belfast 24 1978 2014 Republicans [19][18]
Danny McIlhone 1981 2008 Republicans [19][34]
Kevin McKee South Armagh 1972 2015 Republicans [19][35]
Brian McKinney Belfast 22 1978 1999 Republicans [19][36]
Columba McVeigh Dublin, Ireland 19 1975 Still missing Republicans [19][37][38]
Eamon Molloy Belfast 22 1975 1999 Republicans [19][39][40]
Robert Nairac Dromintee, South Armagh 29 1977 Still missing Republicans [19][41]
Gareth O'Connor Newtownhamilton 24 2003 2005 Republicans [12]
Seamus Ruddy Paris, France 32 1985 Still missing Republicans [19][42]
Eugene Simons Castlewellan, Co Down 26 1981 1984 Republicans [19]
Peter Wilson Belfast 21 1973 2010 Republicans [19][43][44][45]
Seamus Wright South Armagh 1972 2015 Republicans [19][35]
  1. ^ Location of disappearance; in Northern Ireland unless otherwise stated

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Remains The Disappeared: Meath bog to be searched for Brendan Megraw". BBC News. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014. 
  18. ^ a b "The Disappeared: Human remains found in search for Brendan Megraw". BBC News. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014. 
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Who were the 'Disappeared'?". BBC News. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2014. 
  20. ^ "Appeal from Disappeared searchers". BBC News. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  21. ^ "Family of "Disappeared" Gerry Evans hope for closure". BBC News. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  22. ^ "Remains were 'Disappeared' Crossmaglen man Gerry Evans". BBC News. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  23. ^ "Fresh 'Disappeared' search". BBC News. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  24. ^ "Widow's relief as remains found in 'Disappeared' search". BBC News. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  25. ^ 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. 
  26. ^ Wright and McKee bodies located, bbc.co.uk; accessed 10 September 2015.
  27. ^ a b "RTE Special report". RTE News. Retrieved 3 March 2015. 
  28. ^ "Lisa Dorrian profile". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014. 
  29. ^ "Commission to investigate Joe Lynskey death". BBC News. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2014. 
  30. ^ "Forty years later, IRA finally admits to man’s ‘execution'". Belfast Telegraph. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2014. 
  31. ^ "Buried Secrets". The Pensive Quill. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2014. 
  32. ^ "Body finds encourage searchers". BBC News. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  33. ^ "Jean McConville's daughter recalls mother's abduction by IRA". BBC News. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  34. ^ "Family of IRA victim 'at peace'". BBC News. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  35. ^ a b Rosie Cowan (30 September 2002). "Adams 'at heart' of IRA's most shameful killing campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2014. 
  36. ^ "'My tears for Brian'". BBC News. 17 July 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  37. ^ "Columba McVeigh: Brother calls for more information from IRA". BBC News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  38. ^ "Columba McVeigh". The Disappeared of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2014. 
  39. ^ "'Disappeared' victim identified". BBC News. 20 July 1999. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  40. ^ "A prayer before dying: IRA took priest to Disappeared victim before murder". BBC News. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  41. ^ "McGuinness in Nairac body appeal". BBC News. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2014. 
  42. ^ "Family of INLA murder man misled". BBC News. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2014. 
  43. ^ "Fresh 'Disappeared' dig for Peter Wilson announced". BBC News. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  44. ^ "Remains were 'Disappeared' man Peter Wilson's". BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 
  45. ^ "Inquest into death of 'Disappeared' man Peter Wilson". BBC News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2014. 

External links[edit]

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