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Paisley appeal over Disappeared | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
DUP leader Ian Paisley has appealed for anyone who can help find the body of an IRA murder victim to come to him. | |
Mr Paisley was speaking before a meeting with Vera McVeigh, whose son Columba, 17, was kidnapped, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1975. | |
He said he believed there were those who knew what had happened but were under pressure not to speak. | |
"Let's identify the body and let our dear sister and her family bring an end to it all," he said. | |
Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he was prepared to do everything humanly possible to help recover Columba's remains. | |
However, Mrs McVeigh said she was not impressed by Mr Adams' words. | |
Mrs McVeigh, who has recently been ill, added that the recovery of her son's body would mean the world to her. | |
Mr Paisley was contacted by the late Monsignor Denis Faul, a campaigner for the Disappeared, asking for his help. | Mr Paisley was contacted by the late Monsignor Denis Faul, a campaigner for the Disappeared, asking for his help. |
In July, he said Fr Faul had told him not to give in until the families of the Disappeared had retrieved their loved ones' remains. | |
The meeting was set up by the DUP peer Lord Morrow. | The meeting was set up by the DUP peer Lord Morrow. |
Columba McVeigh's younger brother, Oliver, said that his mother talked about her murdered son every day, and needed closure. | Columba McVeigh's younger brother, Oliver, said that his mother talked about her murdered son every day, and needed closure. |
He said that they hoped the involvement of the DUP leader would help his family and the other families of the Disappeared. | He said that they hoped the involvement of the DUP leader would help his family and the other families of the Disappeared. |
"They can certainly apply more pressure on Sinn Fein/IRA and on the two governments because there's going to be no closure for our families unless they turn up the bodies," he said. | "They can certainly apply more pressure on Sinn Fein/IRA and on the two governments because there's going to be no closure for our families unless they turn up the bodies," he said. |
"If anyone saw my mother - seen the state she was in, they would certainly want it to happen and I'm sure the other families would be the same." | "If anyone saw my mother - seen the state she was in, they would certainly want it to happen and I'm sure the other families would be the same." |
In 2003, Mrs McVeigh said she had given up hope of ever finding her son's body. | In 2003, Mrs McVeigh said she had given up hope of ever finding her son's body. |
She was speaking as police completed a 14-day excavation at bogland at Bragan near Emyvale, County Monaghan. | She was speaking as police completed a 14-day excavation at bogland at Bragan near Emyvale, County Monaghan. |
The operation was the third dig in the area and followed new information passed to the Irish government by the IRA. | |
In 1999, the IRA offered to help locate the bodies of the nine Disappeared. Three victims were found in 1999 while one was uncovered in 2003. | In 1999, the IRA offered to help locate the bodies of the nine Disappeared. Three victims were found in 1999 while one was uncovered in 2003. |