Search for disappeared to take place at kells bog

A renewed search for one of the IRA’s so-called Disappeared victims on bogland at Oristown, near Kells, Co. Meath by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) is to take place next week, it has been confirmed.

Specialist forensic investigators are preparing to scour a vast bog area at Oristown for the remains of 23-year-old newlywed Brendan Megraw from Twinbrook, West Belfast, who vanished in April 1978, 36 years ago.

Allegedly confessed to being a British provocateur and Military Reaction Force undercover agent, Mr Megraw is one of 17 people abducted, murdered and secretly buried at the height of the Troubles by republicans between 1972 and 2003.

Geoff Knupfer from ICLVR, the body jointly set up by the Irish and British governments after the Good Friday peace agreement, claimed the commission faced a mammoth job.

He said that no one, “least of all Brendan’s family, is under any illusion that this is anything other than a huge task. But, with the right information, we are confident that we can find Brendan.”

Three unsuccessful searches covering 10 acres of Oristown bogland have already been carried out for Brendan Megraw, the most recent of which was in 2010. The Commission are to carry out a geophysical survey using ground-penetrating radar examination to map a 2.5 hectare area not previously analysed.

Mr Knupfer added: “The ICLVR does not carry out speculative operations. We are entirely information led.”

The remains of 10 people, including mother-of-10 Jean McConville, have been recovered following searches carried out and led by the Commission. However, the bodies of seven others have yet to be found

Others still missing include Joe Lynskey, a former Cistercian monk from West Belfast, Captain Robert Nairac of the SAS, and 19-year-old Columba McVeigh from Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

As well as Mr Megraw, at least two other bodies are thought to be buried in Co Meath.

Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright were taken from West Belfast in 1972 and searches have been carried out at Wilkinstown, a short distance from Oristown.