A JOINT call has been issued by both the British and Irish Governments for information relating to the Troubles victims known as the ‘Disappeared’ whose bodies have yet to be found.
At the height of the conflict in Northern Ireland, 17 people who were abducted and murdered by republican paramilitaries and then buried at secret locations became known as the ‘Disappeared’.
The remains of four of them have yet to be found, including teenager Columba McVeigh, from Donaghmore in Co. Tyrone.
The 19-year-old was killed on November 1, 1975 and buried at a secret location.
Columba McVeigh is one of 17 people murdered during the Troubles known as the ‘Disappeared’ (Picture: WAVE Trauma Centre)The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) continues to search for his remains, as well as those of Joe Lynskey, Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.
Those searches were among the topics discussed at a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) held at Farmleigh House in Dublin yesterday.
Tánaiste Simon Harris and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan hosted Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Matthew Patrick.
“The Governments acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the abduction and murder of Columba McVeigh,” a BIIGC spokesperson confirmed in a statement following the meeting.
“They renewed their call for anyone who has information about any of the remaining Disappeared – Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire – to share it with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains,” they added.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Tánaiste Simon Harris hosted NI Secretary Hilary Benn and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Matthew Patrick at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) meeting at Farmleigh House yesterdayThe meeting also discussed the controversial appointment earlier this year of a conflict expert who is tasked with meeting members of loyalist and republican groups in Northern Ireland to encourage them to disband.
“Ministers also welcomed that Fleur Ravensbergen has commenced her work as the Independent Expert on paramilitary group transition to disbandment, appointed by both Governments,” the BIIGC spokesperson explained.
“She is undertaking a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment, and is to submit a report by mid-August 2026,” they added.
The appointment drew criticism when first announced, with Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long claiming it was not “appropriate”.
“We do not believe that this is the appropriate approach,” she said in September.
“Twenty-eight years after the Good Friday Agreement, the route to ending paramilitarism has to be through more robust law enforcement, coupled with more targeted community relations work to tackle vulnerability and the harms they cause,” she explained.
“There can be no negotiation or sweeteners involved.”