In a disappointing turn of events, it has been confirmed that the exhumed human remains from a cemetery in County Monaghan are not those of Joe Lynskey, a victim of The Troubles in Northern Ireland who was one of the Disappeared. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) revealed that DNA test results did not match those of Joe Lynskey’s family or any of the remaining Disappeared individuals. The search for Mr. Lynskey’s remains continues as Irish police are working to identify the exhumed remains.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn expressed his sadness at the unsuccessful exhumation, acknowledging the long years of uncertainty and heartache the Lynskey family has endured. He urged anyone with information regarding Mr. Lynskey or the remaining Disappeared to come forward to the ICLVR in confidence. The ICLVR conducted the exhumation at Annyalla cemetery in response to information about suspicious activity at a grave during the 1970s, coinciding with Mr. Lynskey’s disappearance. Despite hopes for closure, the outcome of tests on the remains was deeply distressing for Mr. Lynskey’s family.
The ICLVR acknowledged the disappointment felt by the Lynskey family and stated that all interested parties had been informed about the results of the DNA examinations. The search for the remaining Disappeared individuals continues, with a commitment from the ICLVR to do everything possible to recover their remains. Furthermore, the commission appealed to anyone with information on Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac, or Seamus Maguire to come forward to aid in the search for answers. Joe Lynskey, a former Cistercian monk turned IRA member from West Belfast, has been missing since 1972, with his body still awaiting repatriation. The recent focus on the Disappeared in popular culture, such as the Disney+ series Say Nothing, has shed light on the historical events and the ongoing quest for justice and closure for the victims and their families
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
