29/11/2010

IRA Murder Victim's Body Identified

Remains found in the Republic of Ireland have been identified as those of one of the 'Disappeared', Gerry Evans.

The murder victim, who was 24 and from Crossmaglen, went missing in March 1979.

His body was found on 15 October in bogland in Co Louth only and in a statement on Monday, Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains members Frank Murray and Sir Ken Bloomfield said: "The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) has received the results of the DNA examination carried out on samples of the human remains recovered by the ICLVR team at Carrickrobin in Co Louth, on the 15 October 2010

"The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Mr Gerard Evans.

"Dr Brian Farrell, Coroner for the City of Dublin has accepted this as evidence of identification and has authorised the release of the remains to the family," their statement said, noting that "the thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with the Evans family at this difficult time".

The remains were discovered shortly after the commission announced they were winding down the search at Carrickrobin after 16 months of painstaking excavation.

Mr Evans was last seen hitchhiking in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan with the victim believed to have been kidnapped and murdered by the IRA.

Now, his remains have been removed to a local funeral directors, Michael J McConville, in his home town of Crossmaglen.

(BMcC/GK)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 September 2010
Gerry Evans 'Disappeared' Search Ended
The cross-border organisation that was set up to recover long-buried IRA terror victims - known as 'The Disappeared' - has confirmed it is calling off a search for a man missing since 1979.
03 August 2006
Government move to find 'Disappeared'
The British and Irish Governments have today set out a series of measures which have been agreed with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR).
08 June 2022
Man Dies Following Crash In Magherafelt
A man in his 40s has died following a road traffic crash in Magherafelt on Tuesday. A tractor and a motorbike were involved in the collision which happened on the Aughrim Road just after 8.30pm. The man, who was driving the motorbike, was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.
06 April 2022
L'Derry Security Alert Enters Its Third Day
A security alert in L'Derry has continued into its third day. The operation began at about 7pm on Monday 04 April following the discovery of a suspicious object on the Corrody Road. According to reports, the road remains closed and police are continuing to investigate the scene. The road remains closed between Strabane Old Road and Kittybane Road.
16 November 2021
PSNI Student Officer Recruitment Campaign Remains Open For Applications
A PSNI Student Officer campaign remains open for applications until midday on Friday 19 November. Encouraging people to apply, Chief Operating Officer Pamela McCreedy said: "We launched our recruitment campaign a few weeks ago and have already received over 3,700 applications.