Sister Pledges Ongoing Search for Columba McVeigh and Other “Disappeared” Victims

The sister of a man who was murdered and clandestinely interred by the IRA nearly five decades ago has pledged to persist in the search for his remains and those of other individuals in similar circumstances. Dympna Kerr’s brother, Columba McVeigh, is identified as one of 17 murder victims collectively referred to as The Disappeared. Among those documented by the commission established to locate them, four individuals are still unaccounted for. Mrs. Kerr, alongside other relatives, participated in an annual commemorative walk held at Stormont. She informed BBC News NI, “We will come here every year until we’ve found them.” She added, “It mightn’t be me that’ll be coming. I might run out of time. But we have kids who will follow in our footsteps, and there will be families coming here until every last member on that list has been found.” Additional victims whose remains are yet to be located include Joe Lynskey, Seamus McGuire, and Army officer Captain Robert Nairac. A search operation for Captain Nairac’s remains, conducted last month at Faughart near Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland, concluded unsuccessfully. Mr. McVeigh, a resident of Donaghmore, County Tyrone, was 19 years old at the time of his disappearance in 1975. Numerous search efforts have been conducted throughout the years, primarily focusing on Bragan Bog near Emyvale in County Monaghan. These searches have been carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR). Mrs. Kerr issued an appeal for anyone possessing information regarding the whereabouts of her brother and the other individuals to present it. She stated, “Somebody out there has that information.” She continued, “They might think it’s irrelevant or somebody else will tell them. Anybody, and I mean anybody with the smallest bit of information, it’s not for them to decide if it’s relevant or not – get it to the commission.” “Let the commission make that decision. Because I’m telling you now, if the commission get the information, they’ll find them.” Relatives offered a prayer and proceeded to the steps of the parliament buildings, where they placed a black wreath adorned with five white lilies. Four of these lilies symbolized each of the four remaining individuals among The Disappeared, with the fifth lily dedicated to Lisa Dorrian, who is also missing. Nearly two decades have passed since her last sighting at a party held at a caravan park in Ballyhalbert, County Down. Law enforcement officials suspect she was murdered. No convictions have been made in connection with her disappearance, and despite numerous land and sea searches, her body has not been recovered. Her father, John Dorrian, informed BBC News NI that participating with other families offered a degree of solace. He commented, “Coming here to this walk, it helps us to meet other people who are in the same circumstances and we try to support each other.” He added, “We feel as a family sorry for the people who also have got people missing because we know how they feel. I know these people have been missing since the 70s. It must be dreadful.” Anne Morgan, whose brother Seamus Ruddy was among The Disappeared and whose remains were located in 2017, also participated in the event. She stated, “We have found that being together has helped us to be heard.” The Wave Trauma Centre, which has provided support to families of The Disappeared since the mid-1990s, organizes this walk. Dr. Sandra Peake, the organization’s chief executive officer, remarked: “One of the evil aims of those behind disappearing people was to literally remove every trace of them from the face of the earth as if they never existed.” She further stated, “The sheer inhumanity is breathtaking.” “Until all The Disappeared are home the families will not rest nor will they be silent.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not accountable for the content of external sites. Details concerning their external linking policy are provided.