Search for IRA victim's body in Monaghan due to end

The search for the remains of teenager Columba McVeigh who was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in the 1970s is due to…

The search for the remains of teenager Columba McVeigh who was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in the 1970s is due to end later today.

Columba (17) from Donaghmore in County Tyrone - referred to as one of the so-called Disappeared - was kidnapped and killed in 1975.

Gardaí have been searching for his body at a bog at Bragan near Emyvale, County Monaghan for almost two weeks.

They completed their excavation of the main site yesterday afternoon, but had extended their search to include two smaller areas.

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According to Garda Supt John Farrelly, excavation of the area was completed yesterday, but digging would continue until this evening on a number of small places.

He said the extension to the dig was not the result of any new information emerging.

It is the third dig in the area and follows new information passed to the government by the IRA.

Columba's mother, Vera, and brother, Eugene, visited the dig scene last week.