New site searched for Disappeared
A new site is to be examined in the hunt for one of the Disappeared of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
The site is in County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, where the remains of the Crossmaglen man Gerry Evans are said to be buried.
It has been claimed he was shot 30 years ago by the IRA as a suspected informer.
It comes as the assembly passed a new bill to help the relatives of the Disappeared and other missing persons.
The Presumption of Death Bill allows the High Court to declare that a missing person may be presumed dead and for the issuing of death certificates.
It is expected that the legislation will be fully operational in November.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds introduced the bill and said that if a person had not been known to be alive for at least seven years they could be declared presumed dead by the High Court and a certificate of presumed death made available by the General Register Office.
“While a piece of paper cannot erase or even ease the suffering that the families of all missing persons endure, it may help in the grieving process and bring some small measure of comfort,” he said.
Five found
There were 14 people who ‘disappeared’ during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. So far, five bodies have been recovered, but the burial sites of the remaining nine are unknown.
The IRA admitted responsibility for killing and secretly burying 10 of the 14, while one was admitted by the INLA. No attribution has been given to the remaining three, but it is largely the view of the families that they were victims of IRA.
Mr Evans was one of two men from Crossmaglen who vanished. The family of the other, Charlie Armstrong, have said they know the general area in which he is buried, but need help to pinpoint the exact location.
Gerry Evans was 24 in 1979 when, it is claimed, he was walked into a stretch of bog just over the border and shot dead.
Charlie Armstrong disappeared in 1981. His family believe he was killed when he resisted an attempt to hijack his car.
His family believe he is buried in this border scrubland somewhere and that they are close to finding him. But despite two anonymous maps and an extensive dig of this ground last year, they still have not pinpointed the burial spot.
For the family of Gerry Evans there is the hope of progress.
The bog will be drained and surveyed this summer.
In the meantime signs appealing for information will be erected on the approach roads to Crossmaglen.
The Armstrongs hope it will prompt a fresh lead and said they really need to end the torment that has cast such a long shadow over their lives.
