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Disappeared: trovati Seamus Wright e Kevin McKee

DNA tests confirm bodies are ‘Disappeared’

Disappeared | © PA

DNA tests have confirmed that two bodies recovered in a bog near Coghalstown in Co Meath are those of Disappeared victims Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee.

The two men, who were in the IRA, were abducted together from Belfast in October 1972 and murdered. They were known to be buried in the same area.

The bodies were unearthed during a search for another disappeared victim, Joe Lynskey.

It had initially been thought the first remains discovered were that of Mr Lynskey but the DNA confirmation means the location of his remains is still unknown.

The 40-year-old Cistercian monk and IRA member went missing from west Belfast in August 1972.

He was abducted, executed and secretly buried by the IRA.

In a statement the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains said: “The ICLVR has received the results of the DNA examination carried out on samples of the human remains recovered by the team at Coghalstown, Co Meath, on 25 June 2015.

“Dr. Brian Farrell, Coroner for the City of Dublin, has accepted this as evidence of identification and will shortly authorise the release of the remains to the families.

“The thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with the Wright and McKee families at this difficult time.”

The families have indicated that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Geoff Knupfer, lead forensic investigator with the ICLVR, said the dig for Mr Lynskey will continue over the next few weeks.

“We certainly have not given up hope,” he said.

“We are satisfied that the information we have received is genuine and we will continue to work with it.”

Mr Knupfer and the commission have remained in regular contact with the Lynskey family who he said have shown “remarkable forbearance” since they were told a body had been discovered only to have their hopes dashed.

The commission chief said information is coming to investigators all the time and he renewed the appeal for more.

“We don’t anticipate being prevented from completion from the onset of bad weather. We are just completing the bottom of the field and then returning to the top in the next few days. We are still hopeful that we will find him,” Mr Knupfer said.

Reacting to the developments, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said: “This news will bring an end to the uncertainty for the McKee and Wright families.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped in the search for the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA.

“Republicans have cooperated fully with the commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families.

“Today’s confirmation is an important step toward achieving this.”

Alex Attwood of the SDLP paid tribute to the “resilience and fortitude of the families of the Disappeared”.

He added: “This is a day when the thoughts of all are with the families of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee.

“After so long, their remains have been identified and will now be released to their families.”

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson Brendan Smith TD also welcomed the DNA results, saying: “The treatment of these men and the 14 other Disappeared remains a scar on the conscience of this country.

“After sixteen years of searching, four families still do not know where their loved ones were buried.

“At the same time there are people out there who know the truth of what happened but continue to refuse to come forward.

“I again appeal to them, if they have any shred of decency, to finally come forward and help to give those families some peace in the terrible ordeal that they have suffered for so long.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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