Updated 7pm
THE FUNERAL OF one of ‘The Disappeared’ took place at St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast today.
Kevin McKee’s body had been left in a bogland in Co Meath for 43 years before being discovered along with that of Seamus Wright, another man shot and secretly buried by the IRA.
Their remains were formally identified last week following DNA testing, after being uncovered by investigators earlier this summer.
A priest at the funeral, Fr Michael Murtagh, said that after ”43 years of pain” it was important that Kevin receive a Christian burial.
McKee was 17 when he disappeared in October 1972 along with Wright, 25.
Who were The Disappeared?
The term ‘The Disappeared’ refers to 16 people killed during the Troubles whose remains were buried and not found.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains was set up by the British and Irish governments as part of the peace process, and tasked with finding the bodies.
Through its agents, it receives confidential information which is only used for the purpose of locating the victims’ remains. It cannot disclose the identity of an informant to police or to the victim’s family.
The agency was established in 1999 and issues various appeals to people with information to come forward.
To date, 12 victims have been recovered, including the most well-known, Jean McConville.
The funeral of Seamus Wright is set to happen tomorrow.
Includes reporting from Daragh Brophy.
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