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Remains confirmed as IRA 'disappeared' Séamus Wright and Kevin McKee Remains confirmed as IRA 'disappeared' Séamus Wright and Kevin McKee
(34 minutes later)
DNA tests have confirmed the remains of two bodies found in an Irish bog are those of Séamus Wright and Kevin McKee, two of the IRA’s “disappeared”.DNA tests have confirmed the remains of two bodies found in an Irish bog are those of Séamus Wright and Kevin McKee, two of the IRA’s “disappeared”.
The men, who were members of the Provisional IRA in west Belfast, vanished in 1972. They were believed to have been kidnapped, interrogated then shot dead by PIRA. Their bodies were buried in secret across the border in the Irish Republic. The men, who were members of the Provisional IRA in west Belfast, vanished in 1972. They were believed to have been kidnapped, interrogated, then shot dead by the PIRA. Their bodies were buried in secret across the border in the Irish Republic.
The organisation in charge of locating the remains of 17 people whom the IRA killed and then disappeared during the Northern Ireland Troubles said DNA examination of samples taken from the bog in County Meath proved they were Wright and McKee.The organisation in charge of locating the remains of 17 people whom the IRA killed and then disappeared during the Northern Ireland Troubles said DNA examination of samples taken from the bog in County Meath proved they were Wright and McKee.
Sir Ken Bloomfield and Frank Murray, senior members of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, said: “The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee. Dr Brian Farrell, coroner for the city of Dublin, has accepted this as evidence of identification and will shortly authorise the release of the remains to the families. The thoughts of everyone in the commission are with the Wright and McKee families at this difficult time.” Sir Ken Bloomfield and Frank Murray, senior members of the independent commission for the location of victims’ remains, said: “The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Séamus Wright and Kevin McKee. Dr Brian Farrell, coroner for the city of Dublin, has accepted this as evidence of identification and will shortly authorise the release of the remains to the families. The thoughts of everyone in the commission are with the Wright and McKee families at this difficult time.”
The McKees and Wrights have indicated that funeral arrangements for the men will be released in due course, the commission said. The families had indicated that details of the funeral arrangements would be released in due course, the commission said.
The pair were accused by the PIRA’s Belfast Brigade of working as agents for an undercover British Army unit carrying out covert attacks in the city aimed at republicans. The pair were accused by the PIRA’s Belfast brigade of working as agents for an undercover British Army unit carrying out covert attacks in the city aimed at republicans.
The Sinn Féin leader said the DNA identifications would bring an end to the uncertainty for the McKee and Wright families. “I want to thank everyone who has helped in the search for the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA,” Gerry Adams said. “Republicans have cooperated fully with the commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families. Today’s confirmation is an important step toward achieving this.” The Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, said the DNA identifications would bring an end to the uncertainty for the McKee and Wright families.
The most notorious case of the disappeared was that of Jean McConville, a widow and mother of 10 who was kidnapped, taken in a car from west Belfast across the border to the Irish Republic, shot dead and buried at a beach in County Louth.The former Belfast IRA commander and hunger striker Brendan Hughes claimed Adams had given the order for McConville to be killed and buried in secret to avoid political embarrassment for the republican movement. Adams has always denied any connection to the McConville murder or even being in the IRA. “I want to thank everyone who has helped in the search for the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA,” Adams said. “Republicans have cooperated fully with the commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families. Today’s confirmation is an important step toward achieving this.”
The most notorious case of the disappeared was that of Jean McConville, a widow and mother of 10 who was kidnapped, taken in a car from west Belfast across the border to the republic, shot dead and buried at a beach in County Louth. The former Belfast IRA commander and hunger striker Brendan Hughes claimed Adams had given the order for McConville to be killed and buried in secret to avoid political embarrassment for the republican movement. Adams has always denied any connection to the McConville murder or even being in the IRA.
Four people remain on the disappeared list, three of them believed to have been kidnapped and killed by the IRA. The missing presumed dead include SAS Captain Robert Nairac who vanished while on a covert mission in South Armagh.Four people remain on the disappeared list, three of them believed to have been kidnapped and killed by the IRA. The missing presumed dead include SAS Captain Robert Nairac who vanished while on a covert mission in South Armagh.
The other person on the list is Séamus Ruddy, a County Down schoolteacher and member of the Irish Republican Socialist party. He was abducted, tortured and killed by a faction of the Irish National Liberation Army in Paris in the 1980s. Despite searches in the French capital and in a forest in Normandy, Ruddy’s remains have never been found.The other person on the list is Séamus Ruddy, a County Down schoolteacher and member of the Irish Republican Socialist party. He was abducted, tortured and killed by a faction of the Irish National Liberation Army in Paris in the 1980s. Despite searches in the French capital and in a forest in Normandy, Ruddy’s remains have never been found.