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Monaghan remains thought those of IRA ‘ disappeared’

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — Human remains have been recovered by gardai after four weeks of digging on a site in County Monaghan where it was claimed two young Belfastmen were secretly buried after being murdered by the IRA in 1978.

Brian McKinney, 23, and John McClory, 17, disappeared at the same time. Three months ago, the IRA admitted killing them and claimed they had stolen weapons from an arms dump and used them in robberies.

The remains were found Tuesday at Colgagh, where the original search area had been hugely extended since the location was first passed on to Garda by intermediaries.

The find supports statements from leading members of Sinn Fein that the information supplied by the IRA is genuine. It will also strengthen pleas from relatives for other digs for the disappeared to continue.

McKinney’s mother, Margaret, who has made several visits to the dig site, said the IRA had originally claimed her son was in England.

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She said at the weekend that it was harrowing to watch the excavations.

"It is a vast area," she said. "The Garda have dug up so much of it and it can be a bit disheartening. Each day comes and you are just hoping that you will get news today that he has been found. Then you are wishing it was tomorrow."

The McKinney and McClory families have brought photographs of the dead men to the dig. They have also laid flowers there and have prayed for them.

Margaret McKinney was convinced her son’s remains would be found at Colgagh. "For 21 years the IRA have denied murdering Brian and John McClory and now that they have admitted it, I don’t see why they aren’t buried where they say they are," she said. "Sometimes I think about what his last moments were. Did he know where he was going? Did he know what his fate was going to be?"

On 18 May, Gardai suspended searches on two of the six sites identified by the IRA in Lacken, Co. Wicklow, and Kells, Co. Meath.

Digging is continuing at three others sites, Templetown Beach, Carlingford, Co. Louth, at Coghalstown Wood, near Navan, Co. Meath, and at Carrigroe near Emyvale, Co. Monaghan.

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