Search operations have resumed in Co Monaghan to attempt to find the remains of Columba McVeigh, who disappeared in 1975. The ongoing search is part of a larger operation to locate the remains of a total of 16 people who were killed and buried by the IRA during the Troubles. McVeigh, who was 17 years old at the time of his disappearance, was from Donaghmore in Co Tyrone. The search area is a bog located near Bragan in Co Monaghan.
The search is being carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), which was set up in 1999 as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. The commission is jointly funded by the Irish and British governments and works to locate the remains of people who were killed as part of the Troubles and who have not been found.
The most recent search for Columba McVeigh began in October 2020 and was suspended in December due to adverse weather conditions. The search had previously been carried out in 2015, but no remains were found. The ICLVR has stated its determination to locate McVeigh’s remains and return them to his family.
Anne Morgan, McVeigh’s sister, has welcomed the resumption of search operations and expressed hope that her family will finally receive answers about what happened to her brother. She has also expressed gratitude to the ICLVR, the police and the army for their efforts to locate her brother’s remains.
In addition to Columba McVeigh, the ICLVR is working to locate the remains of 15 other people who were killed and buried by the IRA during the Troubles. These include eight members of the security forces, six civilians and one member of the Provisional IRA. The search operations have involved extensive excavation work and the use of advanced technology such as ground-penetrating radar.
The search operations have been complex and challenging, with many of the burial sites believed to be in remote areas and covered by dense vegetation. However, the ICLVR has emphasised its commitment to locating the remains of the victims and providing their families with closure. The commission has also stated that it will continue to work to locate the remains of victims in the future, and has urged anyone with information about burial sites to come forward.
The ongoing search for Columba McVeigh and the other victims of the Troubles demonstrates the ongoing legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland, even decades after it officially ended. While the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought an end to the violence and established a framework for peace, it did not provide closure for many families who lost loved ones during the Troubles. The work of the ICLVR is an important step towards providing closure and justice for these families, and towards bringing a final end to the legacy of the conflict.
