Sister promises to continue searching for Columba and other disappeared people

Columba McVeigh, 19, was kidnapped in 1975

Pacemaker A black and white photo of Columba McVeigh — Columba McVeigh, 19, was kidnapped in 1975

The sister of a man murdered and secretly buried by the IRA almost 50 years ago has vowed to continue the search for him and others like him.

Dympna Kerr’s brother Columba McVeigh was one of the 17 murder victims known as The Disappeared.

Four of those listed by the committee set up to find them are still missing.

Mrs Kerr and other family members took part in an annual walk at Stormont to remember them.

Dympna Kerr (holding wreath), sister of missing victim Columba McVeigh was joined by other families of the missing victims at Stormont on Saturday

David Young/PA Wire Dympna Kerr, sister of missing victim Columba McVeigh (wreath in hand) and wearing glasses, joins the families of the missing victims of Northern Ireland's Troubles and takes part in their annual All Souls' Day silent walk in Stormont to remember the five victims whose remains have yet to be found. — Dympna Kerr (holding wreath), sister of missing victim Columba McVeigh was joined by other families of the missing victims at Stormont on Saturday

“We come here every year until we find them,” she told BBC News NI.

‘Maybe it’s not me who’s coming. I may not have time anymore.

But we have children who will follow in our footsteps, and families will come until every last member on that list is found.”

Other victims yet to be located include Joe Lynskey, Seamus McGuire and army officer Captain Robert Nairac.

A search for Captain Nairac’s remains at Faughart near Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland ended unsuccessfully last month.

Mr McVeigh, from Donaghmore, County Tyrone, was 19 years old when he disappeared in 1975.

Relatives took part in an annual walk in Stormont on Saturday to remember their loved ones, known as the Disappeared

PA Media A group of people walk on red tarmac towards Stormont buildings, it is raining, some have parasols — Relatives took part in an annual walk in Stormont on Saturday to remember their loved ones, known as the Disappeared

Several searches have been carried out over the years, focusing on Bragan Bog near Emyvale in County Monaghan.

The searches were carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of the Remains of Victims (ICLVR).

Ms Kerr urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of her brother and the others to come forward.

“Someone out there has that information,” she said.

“They may think it’s not relevant or someone else will tell them. Anyone, and I mean anyone with the tiniest bit of information, it’s not up to them to decide whether it’s relevant or not – take it to the committee.

“Let the committee make that decision. Because I’m telling you now, if the committee gets the information, they will find it.”

A wreath is laid on the steps of Stormont in memory of The Disappeared

PA 3 ladies laying a wreath on the steps of Stormont, the woman on the left has brown hair, wearing a brown jacket and her own leather bag. The lady in the middle has brown hair, wears a white coat and glasses. The lady on the right has white hair and is wearing a white coat. — A wreath is laid on the steps of Stormont in memory of The Disappeared

Family members said a prayer and walked to the steps of parliament buildings where they laid a black wreath with five white lilies.

Four of the lilies represented each of the four survivors of The Disappeared, and one was for the missing Lisa Dorrian.

It has been almost 20 years since she was last seen at a party at a caravan park in Ballyhalbert, County Down. The police assume she was murdered.

No one has ever been convicted and despite many searches by land and sea, her body has never been found.

Her father John Dorrian told BBC News NI that joining other families brought some comfort.

“By coming here to this walk it helps us meet other people who are in similar circumstances and we try to support each other,” he said.

“As a family, we feel sorry for the people who have also gone missing, because we know how they feel. I know these people have been missing since the 1970s. It must be terrible.”

Anne Morgan, whose brother Seamus Ruddy was one of The Disappeared and whose remains were recovered in 2017, also attended the walk.

“We found that being together helped us be heard,” she said.

The walk is organized by Wave Trauma Centre, which has been supporting families of The Disappeared since the mid-1990s.

The organisation’s CEO, Dr Sandra Peake, said: “One of the evil intentions of those behind disappearing people was to literally erase every trace of them from the face of the earth as if they never existed.

‘The sheer inhumanity is breathtaking.

“Until all the Disappeared are home, the families will not rest, nor will they be silent.”