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Farm dig continues after suspected IRA victims' bodies found Farm dig continues after suspected IRA victims' bodies found
(35 minutes later)
Investigators who discovered two bodies at a bog in the Irish Republic believed to be where the IRA secretly buried some of its victims in the 1970s are continuing to search for a possible third set of remains. Investigators who discovered two bodies in an Irish bog believed to be the site where the IRA secretly buried some of its victims in the 1970s are continuing to search for a possible third set of remains.
Specialist search teams charged with finding the remains of the IRA victims who became known as the disappeared were initially looking only for the body of Joe Lynskey, a former Catholic monk-turned IRA man, who the Republican group murdered in the early 1970s.Specialist search teams charged with finding the remains of the IRA victims who became known as the disappeared were initially looking only for the body of Joe Lynskey, a former Catholic monk-turned IRA man, who the Republican group murdered in the early 1970s.
Related: Disappeared but not forgotten: the grim secrets the IRA could not buryRelated: Disappeared but not forgotten: the grim secrets the IRA could not bury
But on Friday, senior investigator Jon Hill from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) said there could be more remains at the site in County Meath. But on Friday, the senior investigator Jon Hill, from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR), said there could be more remains at the site in County Meath.
“We were searching for the remains of Joe Lynskey, only expecting to find the remains of one person,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme. “As the archaeologists were uncovering the remains they had found, it became clear that there was more than one where we were searching.”“We were searching for the remains of Joe Lynskey, only expecting to find the remains of one person,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme. “As the archaeologists were uncovering the remains they had found, it became clear that there was more than one where we were searching.”
Hill said he thought the two bodies were probably buried together.Hill said he thought the two bodies were probably buried together.
The other bodies are likely to be of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee, both IRA members who were abducted, murdered and buried secretly by the organisation in 1972. They were accused of being recruited as British agents by an army undercover unit carrying out covert attacks in west Belfast at the start of the Troubles. Apart from Lynskey, the other bodies suspected of being buried there are those of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee, both IRA members who were abducted, murdered and buried secretly by the organisation in 1972. They were accused of being recruited as British agents by an army undercover unit carrying out covert attacks in west Belfast at the start of the Troubles.
Hill stressed that it would be some weeks before DNA could give more clarity to the identity of the bodies. Hill stressed that it would be some weeks before DNA could give more clarity on the identity of the bodies.
Maria Lynskey, Joe Lynskey’s neice, who has been to the site of the digging and searches at the Coghalstown bog said on Thursday that she “thought the whole day that it was her uncle” who had been found, but has come to terms with indications that now may not be the case.The three men were part of a group of 17 people bar one that the IRA accused of being informers during the Troubles. They were abducted, killed and buried in secret locations across Ireland. The IRA only admitted to their murders decades after they had been disappeared. Maria Lynskey, Joe Lynskey’s niece, who has been to the site at the Coghalstown bog, said on Thursday that she “thought the whole day that it was her uncle” who had been found, but had come to terms with indications that now may not be the case.The three men were part of a group of 17 people bar one that the IRA accused of being informers during the Troubles. They were abducted, killed and buried in secret locations across Ireland. The IRA only admitted to their murders decades after they had been disappeared.
The most notorious case was mother of 10 Jean McConville, a widow 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. It was also the most controversial case because the IRA commander and hunger striker Brendan Hughes claimed Gerry Adams, now the Sinn Féin president, had given the order for the woman to be killed and buried in secret to avoid political embarrassment for the republican movement. Adams has alwasy denied any connection to the McConville murder or even being in the IRA. The most notorious case 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. It was also the most controversial case because the IRA commander and hunger striker Brendan Hughes claimed Gerry Adams, now the Sinn Féin president, had given the order for the woman 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.
This year was the first dig for Lynskey’s remains. The list of 17 disappeared includes Gareth O’Connor who was murdered in 2003 and had his body recovered in June 2005 at Victoria Quay, Newry Canal, County Louth.This year was the first dig for Lynskey’s remains. The list of 17 disappeared includes Gareth O’Connor who was murdered in 2003 and had his body recovered in June 2005 at Victoria Quay, Newry Canal, County Louth.
The ICLVR has investigated 16 of the abductions and murders. The most recent confirmed discovery was that of Brendan Megraw, whose remains were found in Oristown bog, also in County Meath, in October.The ICLVR has investigated 16 of the abductions and murders. The most recent confirmed discovery was that of Brendan Megraw, whose remains were found in Oristown bog, also in County Meath, in October.