There were many despicable crimes on this island during the era known as the Troubles. Seventeen people were abducted, murdered and buried in secret and four of their bodies have yet to be recovered - Robert Nairac, Joseph Lynskey, Seamus Maguire and Columba McVeigh. A search is under way in my constituency, at Bragan Mountain in County Monaghan, hoping to discover the remains of Columba McVeigh. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains has repeatedly appealed to the public that anybody who has a scintilla of information that may be of benefit provide it directly to the commission, the Garda or whatever authorities in the State. I appeal to the Taoiseach to issue an appeal to the public again to support the work of the commission and ask anybody who thinks they may have some information that may be useful to provide it to the authorities.

Columba McVeigh was murdered in 1975, which is a long time ago. We know memories fade and that it gets more difficult every day-----

Go raibh maith agat. We are over time.

-----but those people just want a Christian burial.

Thank you.

I am sure, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, we all agree with the words-----

I agree but I have to move on-----

-----of Oliver, his brother, who said "We don’t want any incriminations or any investigations". He said they just want to find Columba and have a Christian burial.

I thank the Deputy and call on the Taoiseach.

I agree with what the Deputy said. An expert team is searching for the disappeared victims of the Troubles. The team has begun a sixth dig for the remains of a teenager, Columba McVeigh, who was murdered by the Provisional IRA in November 1975. He was from Donaghmore, Country Tyrone and was aged 19 when he was abducted, shot and secretly buried. The investigators from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains have returned to Bragan Bog near Emyvale, County Monaghan and will search there.

They are not saying they have any additional information; we should not presume that. However, they are asking anybody who knows anything that could help them recover Columba's remains to contact the team. A very revealing book, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe should be required reading for everyone in this House in terms of what happened to families and the lack of any accountability.