cwemory
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Location: Gunpo, Korea
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 Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject: New effort to find bodies of IRA 'disappeared' |
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New effort to find bodies of IRA 'disappeared'
by Andrew Bushe, AFP
DUBLIN (AFP) - Renewed efforts are to be made to find the bodies of Ireland's "disappeared", people abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Britain and Ireland said.
The IRA, which had been fighting for an end to British rule in Northern Ireland, has admitted it killed and secretly buried the victims, claiming they were informers, collaborators or had stolen arms from its munitions dumps.
Despite extensive searches since 1999 on both sides of the Irish border, the bodies of five people the IRA has admitted killing have still not been recovered.
Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said Thursday a series of measures have been agreed with an Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) and victims' families had been informed.
The new measures follow a review carried out by a forensic sciences investigative consultant on what more could be done to recover the bodies.
Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said both governments were committed to doing what they could to bring closure to the families whose loved ones' remains had not been found.
The new efforts include bringing in a forensic specialist and setting up a team to work as part of the commission, as well as allowing people to pass on information via a confidential telephone number and post office box.
Analysts will look at aerial surveys and other records on all suspected gravesites, but physical excavation will only take place if and where the ICLVR believes there to be a good prospect of the successful recovery of remains.
DNA samples will be taken from the closest biological relatives of all those still missing and any surviving medical and dental records will also be secured.
The statement said London and Dublin remained committed to "doing all that is reasonably possible to aid the location of remains."
Both McDowell and Hain urged "extreme caution" about raising unrealistic expectations, particularly because of a number of unsuccessful previous excavations.
They also promised full backing for the ICLVR but stressed that "responsibility for the plight of the families lies squarely with those who carried out the killings and burials."
The leader of the IRA's political wing Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, welcomed the new moves, saying there was "only a relatively short period of time left in which the weather will permit detailed searches to take place".
"The suffering of these families has gone on too long. They have been victims of a grievous injustice done by Republicans," he said.
"The IRA has acknowledged this and its engagement with the forensic expert, and the report he has now produced, is evidence of its determination to right this wrong," Adams said.
Adams said the IRA had met the unnamed forensic expert working for the commission about seven times over a 10-month period.
"There were detailed discussions and specific information was provided on the five outstanding cases. Each site was visited by the forensic expert and the IRA, including individuals with primary knowledge.
"Some sites were visited twice," Adams said. |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060803/wl_afp/irelandnirelandbritain_060803190123 |
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