DISAPPEARED VICTIM
INQUEST HEARS THAT SEAMUS RUDDY HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE
THE family of one of the Disappeared victims has thanked those who came forward to help locate his body after more than 30 years.
Yesterday an inquest jury found Seamus Ruddy died after being shot twice in the head in France.
Mr Ruddy (32), who was from Newry, moved to Paris in 1983 to work as an English teacher but was reported missing in 1985 and his remains were not found until 2017.
Outside Dublin District Coroner’s Court, his sister Anne Morgan thanked those who came forward to give confidential information.
The 64-year-old said: “We want to thank the Dublin Coroner’s Court for the sensitive way the inquest has been carried out.
“What has brought us here was the murder of our brother.
“Seamus was taken in Paris 33 years ago to the day. This year for the first time in 33 years we were able to attend Cemetery Sunday and pray at the grave where Seamus rests with his mother and father in Newry.
“As a family we would like to record our heartfelt appreciation for those who have stood with us over so many years.
“We acknowledge that the people who had the information about where Seamus was buried — we want to thank them for coming forward.”
The inquest heard that Mr Ruddy had been politically active and produced a “news sheet”. His then girlfriend, Cecilia Moore, had moved back to Ireland for a period before his disappearance.
Mr Ruddy phoned his brother Terence on May 9, 1985 to tell him he was to meet with three people.
Terence (73) told the inquest that he pleaded with his brother not to go.
He said: “When he said he was going to meet people I just
❝ For the first time in 33 years we were able to pray at the grave where he rests on Cemetery Sunday
thought that he was telling me that for a reason. I asked him not go — obviously he did.
“It was a few weeks later when Cecilia rang me. My gut instinct was that he was dead because it was completely out of character for him (not to keep in touch).”
Clothes belonging to Mr Ruddy were later found in a river after he was reported missing.
These were identified by Ms Morgan, who said the INLA refused to give her permission to go to France and that she received death threats. Mr Ruddy’s body was found in Pont-del’Arche near Rouen on May 6 last year during a fourth search attempt. It followed a confidential tip-off.
Previous operations — in 1999, 2000 and 2008 — proved unsuccessful but came within 20 metres of his body.
Forensic analysis found the remains had a more than one in one billion chance of not being those of Mr Ruddy.
State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy told the inquest Mr Ruddy died after being shot twice in the head.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane asked the jury to determine the identity, date of death, cause of death and manner. They agreed the body was that of Mr Ruddy, who died on or about May 9 1985 at Pont-de-l’Arche due to gunshot wounds in an unlawful killing by a person or persons.
Dr Cullinane told how the purpose of the inquest was not to attribute blame, adding: “This process is the public completion of many long years of anguish and unresolved grieving for the family and friends of Seamus.
“We hope that the successful identification of Seamus’s remains, his repatriation, his return to his family and loved ones in some way gives comfort to those of you who have suffered so much.”
Three of the 16 Disappeared victims — Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac— have yet to be found.