Minister Jim O’Callaghan calls on those with information about The Disappeared to provide it to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan has called upon those with information about the location of the remains of The Disappeared to provide it to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR).

Today marks the start of an ICLVR search for the remains of Seamus Maguire in Derryclone, Co Armagh.

The ICLVR is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence (known as 'The Disappeared') who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland. The role of the ICLVR is purely humanitarian. Its only aim is to recover the remains of The Disappeared in order to allow their families to give them a proper burial.

Minister O'Callaghan said:

"Today my thoughts are with Seamus Maguire's family, who have endured over 50 years of pain since his disappearance. Seamus's story is particularly tragic and complex due to the lack of clarity that surrounded his fate for so long. It is past time for Seamus's remains to be returned to his family for proper burial.

"I call on anyone with information that could lead to the location of the remains of Seamus Maguire or any of the other Disappeared who have yet to be found - Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh and Robert Nairac - to contact the ICLVR in the strictest confidence.

"The ICLVR needs this information in order to carry out its humanitarian work and someone out there can help."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Press queries on the search should be directed to the ICLVR. The Minister will not be making any further comment at this time.

The ICLVR was established by an Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom signed on 27 April 1999, and by legislation enacted in both jurisdictions. The ICLVR is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland. Further information is available at https://www.iclvr.ie

Information about the missing victims is fundamental to the ICLVR's work. The ICLVR needs further information to be able to progress its investigations into the remaining disappeared victims - Joe Lynskey, Seamus Maguire, Columba McVeigh and Robert Nairac.

The Commission has in place a confidential free-phone number and post office box address through which information can be passed to it. Any such information will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be used for any purpose other than locating the remains of victims.

The ICLVR can be contacted in confidence by:

• telephone: 00800 55585500
• international phone: +353 1 602 8655
• email: [email protected]
• post: ICLVR PO Box 10827