McGuinness' missing victims vow

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The Mid Ulster MP and new Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister gave the commitment as he expressed his sorrow that one mother had died without discovering where her son was buried.

Vera McVeigh, 82, suffered a major stroke last week and died in Craigavon Area Hospital, Co Armagh. Her son Columba, 17, was abducted in Dublin, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1975. But despite a series of searches, including one which lasted for two weeks near Emyvale, Co Monaghan, in 2003, his remains were never recovered.

As he extended his sympathies to the McVeigh family, Mr McGuinness said: "Sinn Fein is entirely sympathetic to the plight of the family and is continuing with our efforts to bring closure for those families whose loved ones were killed by the IRA in the 1970s. The McVeigh family have suffered a grave injustice."

Columba McVeigh is one of the so-called Disappeared - victims murdered by the IRA, but whose bodies have never been located.

Mrs McVeigh met with the Rev Ian Paisley at her home in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, last November as part of her campaign to have her son's body found.

Another of her sons, Oliver, said: "She wasn't afraid of dying, but there was only one thing she ever wanted. The last eight or nine years certainly took their toll on my mother, but she hung on in hope. She wanted Columba in the family grave and then she'd be happy to follow him.

"But I wouldn't be her son if I didn't keep the campaign going. It will be more vigorous than ever. I just hope that the people who refused to come forward to help, including some locals, are proud of themselves."

Mr McGuinness also stressed how the forensic scientist brought in to leading the search for the Disappeared, Geoff Knupfer, has acknowledged the IRA's full co-operation in efforts to locate the remains of those killed.

He added: "I want to repeat the call for anyone with information about Columba McVeigh to bring it forward to me, to the family or the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains."