The daughter of one of the "disappeared" who was murdered by the IRA in 1972 has appealed to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains to order the resumption of the search for her mother's body.
Ms Helen McKendry, whose mother Jean McConville was abducted and later murdered by the IRA 27 years ago yesterday, said she believed there was now additional information to allow the search at Templetown beach in Co Louth to restart.
Ms McKendry said a go-between liaising with the IRA had been assured by the republican organisation that her mother was buried at the beach.
A 50-day dig at the site failed to uncover Ms McConville's body. The search was suspended in mid-July.
There are no plans at present to resume the dig but yesterday Ms McKendry urged the Commission, headed by a former Tanaiste, Mr John Wilson, to arrange a new search for early spring.
Ms McKendry said that if the Commission was to authorise the resumption of the dig for March, it would give great hope to the family.
She added that she accepted the IRA's word that the body was buried at the beach.
