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Investigators attempting to find the remains of a man the IRA murdered and secretly buried 50 years ago are searching a small area of bogland in County Monaghan.<\/p>\n
It follows a review of a previous search for the remains of Columba McVeigh, which ended at Bragan Bog in 2023.<\/a><\/p>\n The 19-year-old, from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, was murdered in 1975.<\/p>\n He is one of 17 victims of the troubles known as the Disappeared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) has previously conducted six searches of the bog since 1999, covering more than 26 acres.<\/p>\n It has described the latest search as “a continuation” of its last dig.<\/p>\n It is not believed to be acting on any new information and is examining an area which has not been excavated before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The search began on 18 August and is expected to last another three weeks.<\/p>\n The operation was due to have taken place six months ago, but was delayed as protected hen harriers were nesting in the area.<\/p>\n Mr McVeigh’s brother, Oliver, said: “Every time they’re digging and searching for him in that particular area is an opportunity to find him.”<\/p>\n He appealed for anyone who had information to come forward and said the latest search had been in the planning for months.<\/p>\n “I hope he’s found this time and we get him into the burial ground in Donaghmore [County Tyrone],” he told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.<\/p>\n “Hope never fades.”<\/p>\n He said he had made his mother a promise before she died that he would give her murdered son a proper burial, and he intended to keep that promise.<\/p>\n “We don’t want him to be lying in a bog for 50 years anonymously, or maybe another 50 years anonymously.<\/p>\n “It was a horrible crime and a horrible thing to do.<\/p>\n “We’ve got over all that but it can be put right by finding his body.”<\/p>\n