A dig under the auspices of The Independent Commission for the Recovery of Victims’ Remains has been going on today on the County Louth / Armagh border to try to locate the remains of Mr. Gerry Evans. Forensic archaeologists and geophysicists marked “hot spots,” the area was then divided into grids and an archaeological team headed up by scientific detective Geoff Knupfer are now beginning to excavate particular areas based on the results of the survey. Preparation of the site at a peat bog has been going on for months and has involved the cutting of two miles of drains. There is, however, no guarantee of success as apparently bogs are “just about one of the most difficult terrains” in which to do this work.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried nine of the so called “disappeared” – Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Ms McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, Mr McClory, Mr McKinney, Mr Molloy and Mr McIlhone – in secret locations. It has been widely reported that they murdered another four of these victims whilst the INLA murdered one. Mr. Evans was last seen in 1979 and although the IRA leadership has denied involvement, a purported member of its south Armagh brigade told the Sunday Tribune that he was part of a 12-member team who carried out the murder and subsequent burial.
A total of five of those murdered have been found: Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory, Jean McConville and Danny McIlhone. Mr. Kunpfer who is leading the current dig said last month that direct contact with the IRA led to a breakthrough in finding Mr McIlhone’s remains, at isolated bogland on the side of Wicklow’s second highest peak, Mullaghcleevaun.
This author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.
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