Disappeared (Northern Ireland)

The Disappeared refers to 17 people from Northern Ireland believed to have been abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) is in charge of locating the remaining bodies, and was led by forensic archaeologist John McIlwaine.

Background

Of the 17 people investigated by the ICLVR, all were Irish Catholics ( Jean McConville was a convert), all except Jean McConville were male, and all are believed to have been abducted and killed by Irish Republicans.

The Provisional IRA admitted to being involved in the forced disappearance of nine of the Disappeared: Eamon Molloy, Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, and Danny McIlhone. British Army officer Robert Nairac, who disappeared from South Armagh, was a Mauritius-born Roman Catholic. The organisation said they could only accurately locate the body of one of their victims, but gave rough ideas for the remaining eight.

, the remains of four of the victims have still not been found.

History

1970s

Joseph Lynskey (40), a veteran Irish Republican paramilitary and IRA member from Cavendish Street in Belfast, disappeared during a violent internal IRA feud in the city in August 1972. In 2009 Dolours Price, a former IRA member, stated in an interview with a newspaper that she drove the car which took him out of Northern Ireland to an IRA safe house in County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland shortly before his disappearance. In January 2010 the IRA issued a statement that Lynskey had been killed as part of an internal disciplinary process, and his body had subsequently been buried in an unmarked grave. The ''Irish Indo Daily'' podcast on 3 December 2024, entitled,
Joe Lynskey: The monk who joined the IRA and was 'disappeared’ over trying to kill his love rival
'' gives an update on the Lynskey case. On May 16, 2025, it was announced that human remains were discovered at a cemetery in Annyalla, County Monaghan, during the search for Lynskey. The remains are now undergoing forensic examination.

Seamus Wright (25) and Kevin McKee (17) were members of the Provisional IRA, who were abducted together in October 1972, suspected of being informants for the British Army’s Military Reaction Force (MRF). After interrogation, they were executed and secretly buried in County Meath. Their remains were discovered on 25 June 2015, buried in a single shallow grave. Following the discovery, their funerals were held in Belfast in September 2015. McKee’s funeral took place on 14 September 2015 at St Peter’s Cathedral on the Falls Road, where his family finally received the chance to give him a Christian burial after more than four decades of uncertainty. His coffin was carried into the cathedral, and following the service, he was buried beside his mother in Blaris Cemetery in Lisburn, with his family releasing doves in his memory as a symbol of peace and closure. Wright’s service was held the next day, on 15 September 2015, at St Agnes’ Church in Andersonstown, where mourners learned he had been buried with rosary beads, a programme from the 1968 All-Ireland Football Final, and an autograph from Manchester United manager Matt Busby, items that had been found in his pocket when his remains were recovered. After the funeral, he was cremated at Roselawn Crematorium in Belfast.

Jean McConville (37), a widowed mother of ten, disappeared in December 1972 after being abducted from her home in Belfast by the Provisional IRA, who accused her of acting as an informer for the British Army. This allegation was later found to be unsubstantiated by official investigations. It was later revealed that she was murdered, executed by a single gunshot to the back of the head, and secretly buried. Her remains were discovered 31 years later, in August 2003 on Shelling Hill Beach in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. On November 1, 2003, a Requiem Mass was held at St Paul’s Church in Belfast, followed by a funeral procession that paused at Divis Flats, where she had been taken. She was then laid to rest at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Lisburn alongside her husband, Arthur, in a funeral attended by her family and the wider community. In October 2014, a man was arrested in connection with her murder, and two further men were arrested in December 2014. While some suspects, including former IRA member Dolours Price, admitted involvement, no one has been convicted and the case remains unresolved.

Peter Wilson (21) was a native of West Belfast and one of six siblings. He was described by those who knew him as a vulnerable individual with learning difficulties. In the summer of 1973, Wilson was abducted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the St James area of Belfast, a neighborhood known at the time for intense conflict during the Troubles. He was suspected by the IRA of acting as an informer for British security forces. Following his abduction, he was killed and his body was secretly buried at Waterfoot, County Antrim. His remains were discovered there in 2010, approximately 37 years later. A funeral service was held on December 17, 2010, at Holy Cross Church, Belfast, near his home on St James Road. Family, friends, and community members gathered to pay their respects during the Requiem Mass. Following the service, he was laid to rest at Milltown Cemetery beside his parents. An inquest was held on March 11, 2011, at Belfast Coroner’s Court, concluding that Wilson died from four gunshot wounds to the back of the head.

Seamus Maguire (29) was officially added to the list of The Disappeared in 2022, marking the first new case in over a decade. He was last seen leaving his home in Aghagallon, near Lurgan, sometime between 1973 and 1974, though later investigations suggest he may have been killed in 1976 after returning from Manchester. His death is believed to have resulted from republican paramilitary activity, though it remains unclear which wing of the IRA was responsible. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) has been investigating his case since it was referred by the PSNI in 2022, but no burial site has been identified. It is suspected that Maguire was secretly buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area, though searches have yet to yield results.

Columba McVeigh (19) from Donaghmore, County Tyrone, disappeared on 31 October 1975, while living in Dublin, he was abducted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). They suspected he had been acting as an informer for British security forces. After his disappearance, McVeigh was killed and is believed to have been secretly buried in Bragan Bog, County Monaghan. Although six significant search operations have taken place since 1999, spanning over 26 acres, his remains have yet to be recovered. The latest search, which concluded in November 2023, was hindered by challenging terrain and unfavourable weather conditions. His sister, Dympna Kerr, remains hopeful and continues to seek any information that could lead to the discovery of his remains, allowing for a proper burial alongside their parents in Donaghmore.

Brendan Megraw (23) was abducted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) from his home in Twinbrook, Belfast, on April 8, 1978. At the time of his disappearance, he was newly married, and his wife was expecting their first child. On the morning of his abduction, a group of men entered his home, restrained his pregnant wife, and administered an injection they claimed would keep her calm. When he returned home, he was taken by the men and was never seen again. On October 1, 2014, discovered in a drainage ditch at Oristown Bog, County Meath, which were confirmed through DNA testing in early November 2014 to be his. His remains were returned to his family. A funeral service was held on November 14, 2014, at St Oliver Plunkett Church, West Belfast. Following the service, he was buried alongside his parents at St Joseph's Cemetery in Glenavy, County Antrim. An inquest held in December 2015 determined that he had died from a gunshot wound to the forehead.

Captain Robert Nairac (28) was a British Army officer serving in the Grenadier Guards during the Troubles. On 15 May 1977, while working undercover, he was abducted outside the Three Steps Inn in Dromintee, South Armagh. He was taken across the border to Flurry Bridge, County Louth, where he was beaten and shot dead by the IRA. His body was secretly buried, and despite multiple searches, his remains have never been found. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) has conducted investigations, but efforts to locate his burial site remain unsuccessful.

John McClory (18) and Brian McKinney (22) were abducted and killed by the Provisional IRA on 25 May 1978, with their remains discovered in Colgagh Bog, County Monaghan, on 29 June 1999, after being secretly buried for over two decades. McKinney had allegedly stolen IRA weapons for use in robberies, and his parents made him return the money, believing the matter had been resolved. However, he was abducted just days later, followed by McClory, who was taken due to his association with McKinney. McClory was described by his family as tall, outgoing, and talkative, with a strong sense of pride in his appearance, particularly his long black hair. He was known for helping elderly neighbours and was well-liked by his friends and family. McKinney, meanwhile, was small in stature, earning the nickname "Bru" after Brian Boru. He had dark brown hair and was known for his musical talents, often playing the mouth organ and guitar. His family described him as kind-hearted, generous, and always singing, though he had asthma and eczema and had been diagnosed at 14 years old with the mind of a six-year-old, making him vulnerable. McClory’s funeral took place on 3 September 1999, with several hundred mourners attending a Requiem Mass at the Holy Spirit Church on Glen Road, where Father Gordon McKendry condemned the killings as a "crime of satanic proportions". McKinney’s funeral followed the next day, on 4 September 1999, with his mother, Margaret McKinney, who had campaigned for years to locate his remains, finally able to lay him to rest near his friend, McClory, in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast.

Gerard Evans (24) was a man from Crossmaglen, South Armagh, who disappeared while hitchhiking home from a dance in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in March 1979. He was thought to have been abducted and murdered by the Provisional IRA, though nobody ever publicly took responsibility. According to a masked man identifying himself as a former member of the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade, Evans was abducted and executed shortly afterwards. The same source told the Sunday Tribune that Evans was killed for being an informer, though this claim was never publicly acknowledged by the IRA. In March 2008, Evans’ aunt received an anonymous map indicating a potential burial site, leading the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) to launch a search. The commission followed the new lead, which eventually led to the discovery of human remains in a bog at Carrickrobbin, near Hackballcross in County Louth in October 2010. Forensic examination confirmed in November 2010 that the remains belonged to Evans. His funeral took place at St. Patrick’s Church in Crossmaglen on December 4, 2010. Following the service, he was laid to rest in the church’s graveyard. A coroner's inquest was held on September 21, 2011, which returned a verdict of unlawful killing, confirming Evans died violently at the hands of a paramilitary group.

1980s

Charles Armstrong (55/56) was a married father of five who disappeared in Crossmaglen on August 16, 1981, while driving to Mass. He had planned to pick up an elderly neighbour on the way but never arrived at the church. His abandoned car was later found in Dundalk, County Louth. At the time, the Provisional IRA denied involvement in his disappearance, and no group claimed responsibility. His family initiated a private search for his remains in October 2003. After several years, his remains were discovered in County Monaghan in July 2010. No official explanation has been provided regarding the circumstances of his abduction and murder. His funeral took place on September 18 2010 at St Patrick's Church, the same church he was traveling to when he disappeared. He was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard. An inquest held in September 2011 returned a verdict of unlawful killing. Due to the length of time his body had been buried, the exact cause of death could not be determined, though forensic evidence indicated his skull was badly damaged and recently discharged firearms residue was found in his car.

Seamus Ruddy (32) was a teacher and journalist from Newry, Northern Ireland. He was abducted in Paris on May 9, 1985, where he had been working as an English teacher, after distancing himself from the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). At the time, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was experiencing violent infighting, with factions vying for control. Ruddy, who had previously been involved with the IRSP, the political wing of the INLA, was caught up in these disputes. His former comrades believed he had knowledge of an arms cache near Rouen, France, which led to his kidnapping and murder. His remains were discovered on May 6 2017, in a forest near Rouen. His funeral took place on June 17, 2017, at St Catherine’s Dominican Chapel in Newry. Family, friends, and members of the community gathered to pay their respects. His burial took place at Monks Hill Cemetery in Newry, where he was laid to rest alongside his parents.

List of Disappeared

References

External links

The Disappeared
bbc.co.uk

Information on the Disappeared
as listed on the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains

{{PIRA

The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
People killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Deaths by firearm in the Republic of Ireland
Irish murder victims
Irish victims of crime
Murder victims from Northern Ireland
People murdered in Northern Ireland
Kidnapped people from Northern Ireland
Deaths by firearm in Northern Ireland
Terrorism deaths in Northern Ireland
Kidnapped Irish people
People murdered in the Republic of Ireland
Terrorism deaths in the Republic of Ireland
Provisional Irish Republican Army
Disappeared (Northern Ireland)