Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated at 1.28pm
THE FAMILY OF one of the IRA’s “disappeared” has issued another appeal for information on the location of his remains.
Columba McVeigh, from Donaghmore in Co Tyrone, was 17 when he was kidnapped and killed in 1975.
He is believed to have been buried at Bragan bog, in Co Monaghan, but four searches, most recently in September 2013, have failed to find his remains.
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of her brother’s abduction this weekend, McVeigh’s sister, Dymphna, told of the suffering his disappearance has caused.
“We loved Columba very much. Every year that passes is harder than the last and this anniversary is particularly painful,” she said.
If Columba had lived we would have celebrated his 60th birthday last September. Not only was that denied us but we have no where to gather to mourn him.
All we can do is to pray and plead. Pray that someday we’ll get him back and plead with anyone who has information to help bring an end to this nightmare.
‘Inhumanity’
McVeigh’s brother, Oliver, said his family could find no way to come to terms with the past.
How can we even begin to do that? Is 40 years not long enough to punish a family?
Someone has the information that can end this inhumanity at absolutely no risk to themselves.
Frank Murray of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) said: “We are convinced that the information we have received to date has us in the right place.
“A huge expanse of Bragan Bog has been searched.
What we need now is more information to be able to refine the search area.
In a statement this afternoon, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams also appealed for anyone with information on McVeigh’s location to come forward.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped thus far in the search for the remains of those killed and secretly buried by the IRA,” he 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.
I therefore want to appeal again for anyone with any information on those remains still not found to bring that information forward to the families, to the Commission or myself.
McVeigh was one of 17 “disappeared” who vanished during the Troubles.
The remains of three other victims - former Cistercian monk Joseph Lynskey, British Army officer Robert Nairac and English teacher Seamus Ruddy – have still not been located.
The bodies of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee – both abducted in Belfast in the 1970s – were recovered in a field at Coghalstown in Co Meath last month.
Anyone with information can contact the ICLVR’s confidential telephone number on 00800-55585500 or write to them at ICLVR, PO BOX, 10827, Dublin 2.
Ray D’arcy 2nd from the bottom ? And what was his starting salary with RTE…… 200K?? Hardly money well spent.
Well done Anton Savage on Today FM … ahead of Ray in listenership ….after taking over his seat on a slightly lower,salary I’m sure!
Ray D’arcy is full of his own self importance. I thought we were rid of him when Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach. That was the only reason I voted for Fine Gael. Ray, like the good politician he is, was just talking rubbish and looking for attention.
He’s part of the RTE elite…Miriam Callaghan etc….if they were that good they should go to UK.
Ah now, leave Miriam out of this. Miriam works her socks off. Not bad to look at either. Fantastic chest.
After all these years I still cannot explain the popularity of Joe Duffy…..
People love a medium to moan, his voice encourages it. Perfect marketing in Ireland.
A bit like the journal
Classic hits 4fm
Boom! You said it Helen
I’m liking Sean Moncrief more and more these days. It’s most still against my will. Perhaps it’s Stockholm syndrome having being captive in the car listening to him so much. Anyway in general I much rather radio. It allows me to do other things whilst being entertained or informed.
there a shower of overpaid morons in RTE how they can justify their wages is crazy that’s why the licence is so high ,you know if they shut down the station most of us would be €160 a year better off and we still would not be at a loss for entertainment
when u have a never ending budget u can hire whoever u like to make ratings .
What the JNLR don’t tell us is how much time we are spending listening to radio….
National Radio is a straight choice between either Communicorp or RTE….either way the listener doesn’t benefit, from Current Affairs programs that is…
We need new media as much as we need a new political infrastructure!!!
JNLR DOES actually tell us how much time we spend listening to radio – around 4 hours a day.
I ONLY listen to Radio Nova – although NOT a National Radio Station – at least I get decent music without the CRAP the Biggie Boyos dish out to an unsuspecting National populace. AND I don’t have to listen to inane DJs pretending to understand politics or some pseudo-nationalistic beliefs …
an insult to the real NOVA 87 FM AND 819 AM!
88
Radio Nova seem to have a playlist of 100 songs on a loop.
“..Radio Nova…playing all over Dublin…. Nowwwwww ….”
Great station, great memories
Chris Carey RIP
BBC RADIO 2 via tunein radio app
They say in the heading that size matters in radio land what do they mean big smile or big tits
i don’t get ray darcy on rte 1 i get the impression that he thinks he just has to turnup
What big eyes you have Miriam. …..lol
Any chance of getting that moron Marty Whelan off Lyric FM? It’s supposed to be a “classical music” station not “Housewives’ Choice”!
Nova with pat Courtney. He’s brilliant!!!
Way to ignore all the regional and local radio stations – in many areas, they easily have 40-66% of the Audience share in the places they broadcast to. But yet none of them merit any praise?
talksport via tunein radio for me.
Where’s Stevo from Sunshine Radio gone ?
Why don’t they contact me when they do theses so called survey s and I will b able to tel them why I don’t listen to RTE radio I prefer independent radio from round d country coz it gives me local stories in Dublin especially radio Kerry from 9am each morning
Absolute Radio
Marty Whelan is pure genius. So happy he’s on Lyric in the morning. There is no competitor to him to my mind. Lyric overall is a great station, John Kelly Ensemble, Jazz, Movies and Musicals, Niall Carroll etc., etc. a great mix. I predict Lyric’s star will continue to rise into the future. Its a bit undiscovered maybe. Marty is introducing people more and more to it.
have your say