Northern Ireland

Search continues for 'disappeared' IRA victims, including soldier

An undercover British soldier who is known to have been killed by the IRA in the late 1970s is among the remaining 'Disappeared' cases that investigators are appealing for help to solve.

Robert Nairac is one of three men whose cases are being highlighted by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR).

Captain Nairac was killed by the IRA in 1977, five years after the same group murdered Joe Lynskey. Seamus Ruddy disappeared in 1985 and was killed by the republican Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

ICLVR senior investigator Geoff Knupfer said the commission was in the dark over the location of Captain Nairac's remains. The undercover soldier was abducted outside a pub in South Armagh where minutes before he was said to have been singing rebel songs.

"We have no information whatever as to where his body lies," he said.

"There have been all sorts of rumours about it being put through meat processing plants and so forth. We're happy that's not the case.

"We believe he's buried somewhere. We would appeal for any information on that case."

The soldier is the sole security force member on the list of the Disappeared. And while rumours around his death appeared to be aimed at ensuring he was never found, Mr Knupfer added: "His family grieve just as much as any other families grieve. We would love to be able to help them as much as we can."

The Lynskey case was the most recent addition to the list of the Disappeared. The former monk from Belfast, who was said to have later joined the IRA, has now been confirmed as a victim of the republican movement.

"His case only emerged a short time ago from the publication of a book," said Mr Knupfer.

"And that really is as much as we've got. We don't know anything more than that.

"He was the first one that we are aware of who disappeared, in the summer of 1972.

"Provisional IRA have said that they executed him, but we don't know where he is."

The investigator said the admission of IRA responsibility emerged "relatively recently", but he said his team now needed information on where the murdered man might have been buried.

Seamus Ruddy was a 32-year-old from Newry in Co Down who was teaching in Paris when it is believed he was kidnapped and killed by the INLA.

A search of the forest where he was believed to have been murdered proved his body had never been buried there.

It is thought his body was buried at the scene of a former paramilitary arms dump, leading the commission to appeal for any further information from the INLA which might help re-direct its search.

"Clearly the [initial] site is incorrect," said Mr Knupfer.

"It would be most helpful if anybody has any information either direct or indirect.

"If there are people who frequented that area during the times of the Troubles, we would like to hear from them."