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Dublin: 14 °C Tuesday 21 May, 2013

Search for teenage IRA victim resumes at Co Monaghan bog

Columba McVeigh, from Donaghmore in Co Tyrone, is believed to have been shot dead by the Provisional IRA in 1975.

Bogs in Monaghan have been searched on several occasions for the remains of IRA victim Columba McVeigh.
Bogs in Monaghan have been searched on several occasions for the remains of IRA victim Columba McVeigh.
Image: Paul Faith/PA Archive

A SEARCH has resumed at a bog in Co Monaghan for the remains of a 17-year-old who was abducted by the IRA in 1975 and never found.

The search for the remains of Columba McVeigh has resumed at Bragan Bog, where a previous search was carried out earlier this year and where numerous searches were carried out in previous decades.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains, a cross-border body responsible for the location of the remains of missing Troubles victims, told the BBC that it was resuming its search after previous information received had been ‘refined’.

UTV News said the body would also be referring to recent surveys of the area which could indicate where ground shows signs of having been disturbed in recent decades.

The most recent leg of the search is expected to take several months, and will require the removal of several trees.

McVeigh, from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, is believed to have been shot dead by the Provisional IRA in 1975. Although the group has admitted responsibility for his killing, it has never specified the nature of McVeigh’s perceived ‘betrayal’ of the republican movement that warranted his abduction and presumed murder.

He has been the focus of several previous searches, including another previous search at a bog in 2003, as well as a search last summer at a graveyard in nearby Urbleshanny, where it had been thought McVeigh’s remains could have been secretly interred.

The IRA has admitted responsibility for the deaths of nine of the 16 ‘Disappeared’, who were abducted during the Troubles and presumably murdered by their captors.

The Irish National Liberation Army has been linked to the disappearance of a tenth victim. Only seven of the sixteen bodies have ever been found.

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Comments (22 Comments)

  • Very sad hope they find the body and bring some closure to the family or even better punish those responsible. I do not know how kidnapping and murdering children helped the cause in any way. Just pure dirtbags behind this action.

    Reply
    • Unfortunately during that period many of those involved in the IRA would have been the same age, or younger, than Columba.

      According to a report : “Columba McVeigh, a civilian from Co Tyrone, was arrested by Irish Republican Army in 1975 and admitted to being a British Army agent who was directed to infiltrate the IRA.”

      Reply
    • @Mark I understand that you as an apologist for SF/IRA are trying to put your own positive spin on this. Remember this was a child who was made a victim by terrorists. But you say he admitted to being a British Army agent. I am sure this was extracted from the poor frightened young lad by gentle persuasion. The truth is when the IRA wanted to make an example of someone (A TRAITOR) they made sure the body was found. So ask yourself, why would they not want the body found? Why would they go to great length to hide the victim? I can come up with 2 reasons that are very plausible
      1. Because they wanted to punish the family.
      2. Because the discovery would show evidence of the savagery and abuse the victim suffered before he signed his confession and was put out of his misery.
      I think we can discount reason 1. So save your spin because it does not wash.

      Reply
  • @mark if they didn’t murder the poor child cause that’s all he was a child.maybe he would be living a normal life now instead of lying in a cold bog somewhere.god help his family and give them closure.

    Reply
  • I would find sinn fein more credible if the used there contacts in the IRA to help the families.

    Reply
    • People can be sectioned if they’re frequently observed having conversations with themselves!

      Reply
    • Stupid comment from an uninformed person. The only reason this dig is happening is because the IRA provided information on the location of victims remains. See below:

      —————————————

      The following statement from the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann was released on Friday 24 October 2003 to An Phoblacht.

      “Following the recovery and confirmation of the identity of the remains of Jean McConville, we would like to take this opportunity to state our position in relation to those killed and buried by the IRA.

      We are sorry that the suffering of those families has continued for so long. We wish to apologise for the grief caused.

      We believe that the sites identified are the locations where those killed by the IRA are buried.

      The IRA is not responsible in any way for the disappearance of a number of other people who have gone missing over the past 30 years.

      Many complicating factors have both hampered and protracted our investigation, established under the command of one of our most senior Volunteers. These included the lapse in time, changes in leadership and the deaths of both members and former members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who were involved.

      In some instances the topography of the locations underwent major changes.

      Some months ago we undertook a detailed re-examination of all the available information, including revisiting each site. As a result we passed on information regarding two sites, where the bodies of Jean McConville and Columba McVeigh had been buried. We have acted in good faith in regard to this issue and continue to do so.

      Our intention in initiating our investigation has been to rectify this injustice, for which we accept full responsibility.

      During the course of all these searches we have continued to process all information that might assist in any way. So far the remains of four people have been recovered. We will do all that we can to bring closure for the other families.

      If further information comes to light we will assess and process that information.”

      P O’Neill

      Irish Republican Publicity Bureau

      Dublin

      Reply
    • Well, aren’t they just marvellous…..

      Reply
    • @Mark. If you believe statements from IRA thugs then you need medical help.

      Reply
    • Patrick, even if it’s just a token gesture, have the UDA and ilk ever apologised or released a similar statement?

      Reply
    • Patrick, the statements have proven to be true. Hence why the majority of those disappeared have been found since the IRA began cooperating with the Commission for the Location of Victims Remains.

      If had not cooperated then these searches would not be happening. Don’t let your hatred for the IRA cloud the reality that they are the ones who provided information on the location of victims.

      Reply
    • Aleo 18/09/12 #

      The only reason this dig is happening is because a boy of seventeen was abducted and murdered by cowards and thugs.

      Reply
    • Aleo 18/09/12 #

      The only reason this dig is happening is because a boy of seventeen was abducted and murdered.

      Reply
  • Aren’t they great lads. Arresting, “Interviewing”, trying and executing a minor. And in parrallel their political wing whinging about human rights abuses.

    Reply
  • a 17 year old boy,terrible,even if he was coerced by the brits to.be a tout its still a harsh death,hope he finally gets a good burial for his families sake

    Reply
  • Very sad. A young man cut down with his whole life ahead of him.

    Reply
  • ‘They are the ones who provided information on the location of victims’ – they are also the people who provided the victims. Condemnation of IRA thuggery should not be taken as support for other thugs.

    Reply
  • As Micheal Collins said “There is no crime in detecting in wartime the spy and the informer. They have destroyed without trial. I have paid them back in their own coin.”

    Hopefully their will never be conflict again here.

    Reply
  • All war is hell…what happens to turncoats is part of the deal…informers, the scourge of liberation movements from day one…

    Reply

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