Body of Columba McVeigh set to be exhumed from a Cemetry near Scotstown

ExcellentDriver · June 28, 2011, 06:04:19 PM

http://url.ie/c37h

The brother of one of the Disappeared has spoken out, as it emerged a dig is underway at a cemetery in Co Monaghan as part of on-going investigations.

The exhumations of remains - from the graveyard of Urbleshanny Church near Scotstown - is taking place in the same area as previous excavations for Co Tyrone teen Columba McVeigh, who was just 17 when he was abducted and murdered in 1975.

"Until the DNA is done you can't really build up any hopes," his brother Oliver told UTV.

"It would be great if it was Columba and we could give him a Christian burial, but I haven't been given any indications at this stage."

An Garda Síochana confirmed that the Irish Justice Minister granted permission for the exhumation from a named grave, due to information received by gardaí and the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains.

Local coroner Dr Martin Watters, who then authorised the exhumation, added: "In the recent past I gave the go ahead for an exhumation to identify the remains within that grave.

"It was an official grave with the graveyard."

The State Pathologist and a forensic anthropologist are at the scene, along with gardaí, Commission staff and scientists.

It is anticipated that the subsequent examination of the remains will take some time.

Sixteen people were murdered and "disappeared" by republican paramilitaries during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but only nine bodies have so far been recovered from secret burial sites.

Nally Stand · June 28, 2011, 06:28:24 PM

Please God this brings good news for the family...

seafoid · June 28, 2011, 06:33:19 PM

What a waste of a life . This is your "only 20%" Nallystand.

Radda bout yeee · June 28, 2011, 06:38:55 PM

Quote from: seafoid on June 28, 2011, 06:33:19 PM
Well thank God he was killed for a united Ireland. And if he hadn't been killed we wouldn't have it now.

what kind of a post is that?

mayogodhelpus@gmail.com · June 28, 2011, 06:42:16 PM

Quote from: seafoid on June 28, 2011, 06:33:19 PM
Well thank God he was killed for a united Ireland. And if he hadn't been killed we wouldn't have it now.

Seafoid I don't think that post worked, whatever way you intended it. It might be too subtle or smart for the likes of me.

Nally Stand · June 28, 2011, 06:45:37 PM

Quote from: seafoid on June 28, 2011, 06:33:19 PM
Well thank God he was killed for a united Ireland. And if he hadn't been killed we wouldn't have it now.

Ditto for the three Protestants (three of the ten killed in one incident) who were dissappeared in Cork in 1922 isn't that right?

Minder · June 28, 2011, 07:24:05 PM

A shameful episode in the "struggle".

Tony Baloney · June 28, 2011, 07:40:05 PM

Quote from: Minder on June 28, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
A shameful episode in the "struggle".

The acts were shameful enough but what is hard to stomach is that the Deputy First Minister and his colleagues in SF could at any point let the authorities know the location of the bodies and let the families live in peace.

Cáthasaigh · June 28, 2011, 07:48:00 PM

Quote from: Tony Baloney on June 28, 2011, 07:40:05 PM
Quote from: Minder on June 28, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
A shameful episode in the "struggle".
The acts were shameful enough but what is hard to stomach is that the Deputy First Minister and his colleagues in SF could at any point let the authorities know the location of the bodies and let the families live in peace.

Nevermind Comical Marty, sure doesn't the Minister Of The Dissapeared represent the Louth constituency where most of them were buried.

An Gaeilgoir · June 28, 2011, 07:59:34 PM

Quote from: Cáthasaigh on June 28, 2011, 07:48:00 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on June 28, 2011, 07:40:05 PM
Quote from: Minder on June 28, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
A shameful episode in the "struggle".
The acts were shameful enough but what is hard to stomach is that the Deputy First Minister and his colleagues in SF could at any point let the authorities know the location of the bodies and let the families live in peace.

Nevermind Comical Marty, sure doesn't the Minister Of The Dissapeared represent the Louth constituency where most of them were buried.

But as he had nothing to do with the IRA, It isn't his problem

Nally Stand · June 28, 2011, 08:00:14 PM

Bodies are being found. You think it's just through luck or something?!

Minder · June 28, 2011, 09:27:38 PM

Where should the family send the "thank you"card to Nally?

Cold tea · June 28, 2011, 09:30:25 PM

Quote from: Minder on June 28, 2011, 09:27:38 PM
Where should the family send the "thank you"card to Nally?

In appreciating the point you are trying to make, that sentance giving the thread topic is a bit sick!

mylestheslasher · June 28, 2011, 09:47:53 PM

Quote from: Tony Baloney on June 28, 2011, 07:40:05 PM
Quote from: Minder on June 28, 2011, 07:24:05 PM
A shameful episode in the "struggle".
The acts were shameful enough but what is hard to stomach is that the Deputy First Minister and his colleagues in SF could at any point let the authorities know the location of the bodies and let the families live in peace.

I don't think they know to be fair. Such jobs were probably left to individuals who could be dead or may not recall the exact spot or of course some may give false info for fear of giving their identities away.

ross matt · June 28, 2011, 09:48:56 PM

Quote from: Nally Stand on June 28, 2011, 08:00:14 PM
Bodies are being found. You think it's just through luck or something?!

Oh so those responsible did actually inform of the bodies whereabouts?
Why the delay?
Did they send the message via the fuckin penguin in the papers that lost his way and ended up in New Zealand or something?