Secretary of State statement on Columba McVeigh Search
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has today (Wednesday 17 December) expressed his regret that the latest search for disappeared teenager Columba McVeigh in Co Monaghan has ended.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has expressed his regret that the latest search for disappeared teenager Columba McVeigh in Co Monaghan has ended.
Mr Benn was commenting after the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) confirmed they have ceased the search operation at Bragan Bog, which had been ongoing since the summer after a review of previous operations identified a new area to be excavated.
The Secretary of State said:
I am deeply saddened that, in spite of the substantial efforts of the Commission, the remains of Columba have not been located at Bragan Bog.
Having visited the site last month, I want to acknowledge the diligence and determination of the Commission to locate Columba since the first search at Bragan Bog was conducted in 1999, as well as the investigators, forensic archaeologists and the search teams for their painstaking and sensitive work.
Today, my thoughts are above with the family of Columba who have endured this unimaginable burden for so many years, and who only recently marked the 50th anniversary of his death.
The UK Government remains committed to the work of the ICLVR. I call on anyone with information that could help the recovery of the remains of those still missing to pass that information to the Commission as soon as possible.