Sister of Columba McVeigh wants President Biden to know what happened to the disappeared

New searches for Columba McVeigh from Co Tyrone who was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA nearly 50 years ago are underway at Bragan bog in County Monaghan.

He is one of the “Disappeared” – victims of the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998 known as the Troubles – whose bodies have yet to be found.

As preparations are underway for President Biden's visit to NI next week to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Columba's sister Dympna Kerr wants the US President to know what happened to the so called disappeared.

Ms Kerr said she hoped US President Joe Biden would be made aware of the plight of the families of the Disappeared who are still waiting for a resolution during his visit to Northern Ireland for the anniversary later this month.

“President Biden will rightly be proud of the role played by the USA in our peace process,” Mrs Kerr said.

“And President Clinton did so much for the families of the Disappeared, but President Biden needs to know that there is unfinished business and that there are Irish men and women who every day and every night still have to live in this horrible limbo.

“It has to end.

"If they could do anything to help, do it, and that goes for anyone that can help, not just President Biden, anybody that can help, just please help us."

A search for Mr McVeigh’s remains in Bragan Bog began in October 2022 but was suspended at the beginning of November when the ground conditions became too dangerous for contractors and archaeologists to continue.

Dympna says the resumption of the bog search brings both hope and anxiety.

“Of course we hope that this time Columba will be found but those hopes have been dashed so many times before that there still is that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach,” she said, adding: “Please make it this time.”

“It’s 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, that was to bring in a new beginning, a new dawn of hope and for many – including us – it did.

“But there is still a dark, thick cloud that hasn’t lifted for our family and the other families who are still waiting to bring him home”.

Jon Hill, the lead investigator for the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), said it was always their intention to resume the search for Mr McVeigh at the earliest opportunity.

“Every time we undertake a search the thoughts of everyone involved are with the McVeigh family,” he said.

“Our focus is on doing everything we can to bring this search to a successful conclusion.

“If the remains of Columba are in this part of the bog we will find them.”

The ICLVR was established in 1999 to locate 16 missing Irish and British people presumed murdered during paramilitary violence and buried in secret.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.