LAST UPDATE | 27 Mar 2023
THE LEAD FORENSIC scientist and investigator for the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) is to retire this week.
Geoff Knupfer, who has been in the role since 2005, said it has been “an honour” to be so closely involved in humanitarian investigations.
The ICLVR was set up in 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement to locate and recover the remains of those abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles – known as the “Disappeared”.
To date the remains of 13 Disappeared have been recovered out of a total of 17.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Knupfer remarked that it’s “been quite a journey, and thank goodness very successful”.
Knupfer added that this success is “down to the skill and determination of first-class investigators, together with excellent forensic archaeologists and contractors”.
He also noted that “everyone who works on these cases in whatever role is acutely aware of the plight of the families”.
Knupfer told Morning Ireland: “We have always maintained a very close relationship with families and have an internal policy that the families will never find out about developments we’re making in relation to their case from anyone other than us in the first instance.
“We’d never want them to turn on a radio or a television or read a newspaper and find out something we’re doing in relation to their case.”
When asked about the cooperation of people who may have been involved in Disappeared cases, Knupfer explained that it “varied in relation to each case”.
He told RTÉ: “Some of the cases were described by the Republican movement as ‘not sanctioned’, that is to say that the leadership of the day didn’t have anything to do with them.
“In the cases where they were sanctioned and they did have close contacts or close ties with the case, they have tried to be very helpful indeed.
“In some cases we have spoken to individuals who were directly involved, in others they are no longer around or available and we have spoken to intermediaries or third partners.”
The remains of Columba McVeigh, Joseph Lynskey, British Army officer Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire are still missing.
“We’re always hopeful and we’d certainly never give up hope,” said Knupfer when asked about these cases.
“In all four cases we’re pursuing lines of inquiry. Those lines of inquiry, we would hope, will lead to success in due course.”
In recent years, the bodies of some of the Disappeared have been recovered.
The remains of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee were found in Co Meath in 2015.
In 2017, the ICLVR undertook its first search outside of the island of Ireland, which led to the successful search in northern France for the remains of Seamus Ruddy.
Knupfer said there’s a mix of feelings when remains are discovered.
“The recovery [of a body] after months and months, sometimes years of searching, is a great feeling for us,” said Knupfer, “but that’s tinged of course with the understanding that it means something pretty final to the family concerned as well.
“It confirms that their loved one was indeed murdered and secretly buried, but there’s no two ways about it, having found the haystack – never mind the needle in the haystack – is a very good feeling for everybody directly and indirectly involved.”
However, Knupfer told RTÉ that he “has to stop sometime”.
“I am feeling a bit creaky in my old age and I think I have to stop sometime,” said Knupfer.
“For nearly 20 years I’ve travelled to and fro because I live across the water, and [being] in hotels and the like, standing in the middle of peatbogs and getting very cold and very wet from time to time.
“I think it’s time for someone else to take over and perhaps for some fresh ideas as well.”
Joint UK and Irish commissioners Rosalie Flanagan and Tim Dalton said Knupfer’s leadership has been “outstanding”.
“His great experience and expertise transformed the ICLVR and today, largely thanks to Geoff, it is recognised as a world leader in this complex work of searching for and recovering the remains of those have been secretly buried for up to 50 years,” they said.
Other high profile roles in Knupfer’s career includes being one of the detectives who worked on the Moors Murders, in trying to locate the remains of the victims of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.
Knupfer will be succeeded by Jon Hill, who is currently the senior investigator with the commission.
Hill said it was a “real privilege” to work with Knupfer.
“His pioneering vision and leadership transformed the ICLVR and I look forward to building on that to take on the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.
“The families of those still waiting for their loved ones’ remains to be found and returned can be assured that everything in our power will be done to bring them home.”
-With additional reporting from Press Association
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