Remains Found In Monaghan Cemetery in search for "Disappeared"; Appeal Made On Kfm This Morning

Eamonn Henry, the ICLVR's newly appointed Lead Investigator and an Athy native, spoke exclusively on Kildare Today this morning, where he renewed an appeal for information and reflected on the significance of the Commission’s work.

Fragments of human remains discovered at Annyalla Cemetery in Monaghan have been sent for forensic testing, the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) has confirmed.

The discovery comes as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Joe Lynskey, one of the Disappeared - those murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles.

Eamonn Henry, the ICLVR's newly appointed Lead Investigator, from Athy originally, spoke exclusively on Kildare Today this morning, where he renewed an appeal for information and reflected on the significance of the Commission’s work.

Appeal Made on Kfm Radio

Mr Henry directly appealed to listeners who might hold vital information. “I do believe we are close in a few of the cases,” he said.

“But the exact locations are eluding us at the moment,” he said.

In March 2015, the commission's inquiries led to the excavation of a site in Coghalstown, Meath, where Joe Lynskey’s body was not found, but the remains of two others, Seamus Wright (25 when he was killed) and Kevin McKee (17), were.

Joe Lynskey was murdered in 1972.

A press release from the ICLVR this afternoon (Friday) has confirmed the location of remains at a site, previously searched.

Remains Not Yet Identified

The remains found at Annyalla were located after new information pointed to a small area within the cemetery, not a family grave.

Mr Henry clarified that while the site had been under investigation for the remains of Joe Lynskey, the newly uncovered remains may or may not be connected to his case.

He said: “Following the recent exhumation at Annyalla Cemetery in relation to the search for Joe Lynskey, information came to the ICLVR indicating another small area of interest within the confines of the cemetery. This was not another family grave site. “

He added: “I want to emphasise that this information did not relate directly to the disappearance of Joe Lynskey,  and so until we have a positive identification or the elimination of the remains as those of Joe Lynskey or any of the other of the Disappeared we have to keep an open mind”.

The State Pathologist has been notified and technical examinations are now underway.

The Lynskey family, who have endured several false dawns in the past, have been informed.

“We know only too well that the Lynskey family have had hopes raised before only to be bitterly disappointed and so, as ever, expectations have to be managed," said Mr. Henry.

This morning on Kfm, Mr Henry renewed the appeal for information on all of the remaining Disappeared cases.

The ICLVR, established in 1999 by the Irish and British governments, has so far recovered the remains of 13 of the 17 individuals known as the Disappeared.

Four cases remain unresolved: Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Seamus Maguire, and Robert Nairac.

Contact Details for Information

Anyone with information is urged to contact the ICLVR in strict confidence by calling +353 1 602 8655, emailing Secretary@iclvr.ie, or writing to ICLVR, PO Box 10827, Dublin, Ireland.

You can listen back to the full interview here.