Adams Urged To Help With 'Disappeared' Search

A day after Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams appealed for information on the whereabouts of bodies of the 'Disappeared', he and Martin McGuinness have been urged to get directly involved in the search.

Nine bodies have been uncovered but seven of those killed and secretly buried by the IRA are still in unknown graves.

Oliver McVeigh, whose brother Columba was killed by the Provisional IRA in 1975, said: "They've got to take the lead on this. They've got to start knocking on the doors of those who know precisely what happened."

Mr Adams met with the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains and said: " The suffering of all of these families has gone on too long. They have a fundamental right to bury their loved ones and there is an onus on everyone to help bring this about."

But Mr McVeigh, from Donaghmore, near Dungannon, Co Tyrone, said Mr Adams himself and Mr McGuinness, the Deputy First Minister and a former IRA commander, should directly approach the IRA men involved.

Mr McVeigh said: "Adams and McGuiness need to be more actively involved. They can do it on the quiet, or whatever. They do not realise how much favour they can curry with the relatives if they do this.

"We don't want to hear any more pleas. They need to start knocking the doors of the men who know precisely what happened. They need to put their shoulder to the wheel and really get behind this."

(NE)