Fresh Appeal Over 'Disappeared'

There has been a fresh appeal for information as to the whereabouts of 'the Disappeared' - victims of republican violence during the Troubles whose bodies were never found - following a new documentary by the BBC and RTÉ that aired last night.

A statement from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains made an appeal for information following the programme.

Commissioners Frank Murray and Sir Ken Bloomfield said: "The television documentary highlights once again the dreadful burden that the families of the Disappeared have had to bear for so long. Theirs is a tale of tragedy and denial - the tragedy of the loss of a loved one and the denial of their right to bury their loved ones decently and to have a place to grieve.

"In a spirit of common human decency, we call on anyone who has any information that may help to locate those victims whose remains have yet to be recovered to give that information, in guaranteed confidence, to the commission."

One of the 'Disappeared' is Jean McConville, a mother-of-10 who was taken from her home in west Belfast while her children watched in 1972. Her body was found in 2003.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was interviewed during the documentary. The Louth TD made an appeal for those responsible to step forward, amid accusations that he himself was involved in the abduction of Ms McConville. Mr Adams has repeatedly denied the allegations outright.

This morning, he tweeted: "Lots twitter angst since clar on Disappeared.My reason 4 doing clar is 2 help Commission retrieve missing bodies.I will continue that work."

SDLP leader Alisdair McDonnell said: "The devastating impact on families who lost loved ones was laid bare in the documentary 'The Disappeared'. The huge human impact of the loss, the distress and pain experienced then and still experienced now is just awful.

"The dignified and very compelling emotion from the families was in stark contrast to the reaction of Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams who unbelievably dismissed that he would have known anything about these cases saying 'do you not live in the real world…people go off. People disappear.'

"Mr. Adams admitted himself that 'all of us bear a responsibility, particularly those of us in leadership.' Now is the time to take full responsibility and admit the full truth about the abductions and murders and burials undertaken by the IRA. For Gerry Adams to say that he took the attitude of 'if you don’t ask you can’t tell' simply does not wash from someone who was in a leadership position then and is in a leadership position now."

Dr McDonnell continued: "For Gerry Adams to tweet after the programme that anyone with information regarding the Disappeared should contact 'the Commission or me' is surely adding insult to injury.

"What was evident from all of the families detailed in 'The Disappeared' was how important the truth was to them about what happened to their loved ones. They deserve nothing less. Surely their moving testimony must now compel full and complete disclosure from Gerry Adams and the republican movement."

(IT/CD)