The family of a man thought to be among those abducted, shot and secretly buried by republicans during the Northern Ireland Troubles today appealed for the return of his body.
West Belfast man Peter Wilson (21) vanished in 1973 and today his relatives joined other families of those known as ‘the Disappeared’ in a wreath-laying ceremony at Stormont.
Mr Wilson’s name was recently reported to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR).
The organisation has already investigated 13 cases of people murdered and buried in unmarked graves, mainly by the IRA.
The missing man’s sister Anne Connolly joined other bereaved relatives to lay a wreath outside Parliament Buildings to appeal for help to end their heartache.
“We, the family of Peter Wilson, hope and pray that through the work of the Disappeared Commission the remains of our dear brother will be returned to us for burial,” she said.
“This is all we want.”
She added: “We would appeal to anyone who knows anything that can help find our brother’s remains to talk to the Commission.”
The IRA has admitted involvement in nine of the killings, but in recent days a senior republican source claimed it was not involved in Mr Wilson’s disappearance.
Vulnerable with learning difficulties, Mr Wilson disappeared from his home in the St James’ area of west Belfast at the height of the Troubles.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains has confirmed Mr Wilson’s disappearance was reported to it and initial enquiries are being made.
A spokesman commenting when details of the case emerged last week said: “We can confirm that another case has been reported to the Commission and we are making further inquiries as to where the remains may be located.”
It is understood investigations are at a very early stage.
The full list of victims whom the IRA admitted to having killed and buried in unknown locations includes: Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, Danny McIlhone and Eamon Molloy.
On the morning that the ICLVR was set up in May 1999, the remains of Eamon Molloy were left in a coffin in a graveyard in Faughart, County Louth.
Further developments in the cases included the recovery of the remains of Brian McKinney and John McClory at a site in Co Monaghan.
The remains of mother-of-ten Mrs McConville were discovered by members of the public on Shelling Hill beach in Co Louth in 2003.
Other cases considered include those of Charles Armstrong and Gerard Evans, who disappeared from Co Armagh, Army officer Robert Nairac who also disappeared from South Armagh, and Seamus Ruddy, who disappeared in France. Responsibility for Seamus Ruddy’s disappearance has been attributed to the republican Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).
PA