Actor backs campaign to find the missing murdered

ACTOR JAMES Nesbitt has spoken of his pain over his mother’s death while appealing for help in finding the disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland troubles.

The Co Antrim star said while his grief is still raw, he at least has the comfort of being able to visit his mother May’s grave, something denied the families of those murdered and secretly buried during the conflict.

Nesbitt was speaking at an event in Belfast to highlight their plight.

“I know where my mum’s buried and, although it’s still very raw at the minute, it is of course enormous comfort to me that I will be able to visit her when I come back home,” he said.

“For these families here today, that is something they have been waiting a lifetime to be able to do.”

Seventeen people were murdered and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles. In 1999 the British and Irish governments set up an independent commission to help locate the bodies.

While the majority have been found, seven have not and they were represented at yesterday’s event at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast by seven empty chairs.

“We are here today once again to ask to anyone with information to please come forward and help these families,” Nesbitt added.

“Anything you can tell will be treated in confidence and you have nothing to fear. All information is privileged and cannot be used for any other purpose.”