Republicans helped pinpoint new dig area for Disappeared victim
REPUBLICANS helped to refine a search area ahead of a fresh attempt to find a teenager who was disappeared by the Provisional IRA more than 40 years ago.
Columba McVeigh (19), from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was abducted, murdered and secretly buried on November 1, 1975.
Excavators started digging in bogland across the Irish border in Co Monaghan yesterday morning.
Four previous searches in the Bragan bog near Emyvale have not uncovered his remains.
He is one of three of the Disappeared victims of the Troubles whose bodies have still to be found.
Jon Hill, senior investigator with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR), said they were helped to identify an area to search.
He said previous search attempts have helped restore the area to how it would have looked in 1975.
“Since 2013 when we concluded the last search, we have re-evaluated all the information we had and we have gone back to the drawing board and encouraged through the Republican Movement any people that might have information about this location to revisit, and to revisit in their minds as well,” Mr Hill said.
“The site has been restored pretty much to how it was back in 1975, that’s the coincidence of us taking down the trees during a search we did further down. So, we encouraged them to come back and, as a result, an area has been designated as worthy for searching for him.”
It is expected to take around two weeks for the excavators to remove the top level of peat from the section they plan to search. After that, ICLVR workers, including archaeologists, will examine an area measuring approximately 40mx20m.
“We are hopeful, we wouldn’t be here if we weren’t hopeful, but you can’t raise expectations too high too early,” Mr Hill added.
“What we need next is to be in exactly the right place.”
The IRA murder victim’s sister said she hopes the new dig will finally end the family’s torment.
“As every year passes, we ask ‘for how much longer must this go on?’,” Dympna Kerr said.
“I can only hope and pray that the torment will end.”