Search for body ends near Wilkinstown

The search near Wilkinstown for the remains of IRA victim Joe Lynskey has been called off after eight months of attempts to find his body.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) has spent almost 12 months searching a 19-acre area of reclaimed bogland at Coghalstown in a search for, Mr Lynskey, one of the so-called Disappeared.

Mr Lynskey was murdered by the IRA and secretly buried in 1972 at the site. It is believed the former monk was shot as a result of an internal feud within the IRA.

The operation to uncover his remains - which began last March - did result in the discovery of the remains of two other members of the Disappeared earlier this year. 

Last June, the remains of Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright were found in a shallow grave as searchers looked for the body of Mr Lynskey.

Maria Lynskey, a niece of Mr Lynskey, has said that while she is bitterly disappointed that the remains of her uncle have not been found she is grateful to all those who had been involved in the search.

'Of course, I’m disappointed that Joe is not coming home to be laid to rest with his parents but I know that the ICLVR did absolutely everything they could to find him,' she said. 

Ms Lynskey also said that she wanted to acknowledge whoever gave the information to the ICLVR, which led to the search, saying she believed that whoever gave the information had acted in good faith.

'But Joe hasn't been found and what we need now is more information. There is more than one person in that area who could help us find Joe and I would appeal to them to please tell us what you know,' she said in a statement.