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11/11/2008
DNA Test May Confirm Wicklow Body's Identity
There's hope for the family of one of the many 'Disappeared' today with news that a body - thought to be that of a man murdered by the IRA - has been discovered in Co Wicklow.
The relatives of Danny McIlhone are awaiting the result of a DNA test carried out on the remains found on Saturday during a search on behalf of the commission set up to find the bodies of the so-called Disappeared - people who were murdered and secretly buried by their killers.
There have been two unsuccessful searches - in 1999 and 2000 - for Danny McIlhone's remains.
It is believed that he was killed and secretly buried in the Republic almost 30 years ago after going missing from west Belfast in 1981 at the age of 19.
The IRA only admitted in 1999 that it kidnapped him and said the teenager was not suspected of being an informer but was being questioned about stealing IRA weapons.
It was claimed that he was killed in a struggle with the person who was guarding him.
Today, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP MLA has welcomed the discovery of "what appear to be the remains of Belfast man Danny McIlhone at the site in Ballynultagh, County Wicklow".
Mr Adams extended his condolences and sympathy to the McIlhone family and commented: "The apparent discovery of Danny McIlhone's remains will come as a great relief for his family"
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the cross-border commission for finding victims' remains confirmed yesterday: "Partial human remains have been recovered by a team working on behalf of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains which is currently ongoing at the site in Co Wicklow."
They said that a forensic expert who helped with the search for the victims of Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley has been working with the commission to turn up new leads.
Yesterday's discovery is thought to have been the result of that renewed effort.
A large Garda forensic tent covers the dig area, which is being manned round-the-clock as the excavation proceeds.
It is believed there had been ongoing contact between the independent commission for the location of victims' remains and representatives of the Provisional Republican movement, which may have helped in locating the remains which were found on Saturday in the Ballynultagh area.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried nine of the so-called Disappeared - Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, Eamon Molloy and Mr McIlhone - in secret locations.
The bodies of four - Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory and Jean McConville - have been found.
Others who vanished during the Troubles include Gerry Evans, Charles Armstrong, undercover officer Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Ruddy, who disappeared in France and whose murder was admitted by the INLA.
(BMcC)
The relatives of Danny McIlhone are awaiting the result of a DNA test carried out on the remains found on Saturday during a search on behalf of the commission set up to find the bodies of the so-called Disappeared - people who were murdered and secretly buried by their killers.
There have been two unsuccessful searches - in 1999 and 2000 - for Danny McIlhone's remains.
It is believed that he was killed and secretly buried in the Republic almost 30 years ago after going missing from west Belfast in 1981 at the age of 19.
The IRA only admitted in 1999 that it kidnapped him and said the teenager was not suspected of being an informer but was being questioned about stealing IRA weapons.
It was claimed that he was killed in a struggle with the person who was guarding him.
Today, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP MLA has welcomed the discovery of "what appear to be the remains of Belfast man Danny McIlhone at the site in Ballynultagh, County Wicklow".
Mr Adams extended his condolences and sympathy to the McIlhone family and commented: "The apparent discovery of Danny McIlhone's remains will come as a great relief for his family"
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the cross-border commission for finding victims' remains confirmed yesterday: "Partial human remains have been recovered by a team working on behalf of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains which is currently ongoing at the site in Co Wicklow."
They said that a forensic expert who helped with the search for the victims of Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley has been working with the commission to turn up new leads.
Yesterday's discovery is thought to have been the result of that renewed effort.
A large Garda forensic tent covers the dig area, which is being manned round-the-clock as the excavation proceeds.
It is believed there had been ongoing contact between the independent commission for the location of victims' remains and representatives of the Provisional Republican movement, which may have helped in locating the remains which were found on Saturday in the Ballynultagh area.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried nine of the so-called Disappeared - Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, Eamon Molloy and Mr McIlhone - in secret locations.
The bodies of four - Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory and Jean McConville - have been found.
Others who vanished during the Troubles include Gerry Evans, Charles Armstrong, undercover officer Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Ruddy, who disappeared in France and whose murder was admitted by the INLA.
(BMcC)
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