Barry O’Connor of BBC News NI has recently shared a photo of one of the Disappeared, Seamus Maguire from Aghagallon, County Antrim, who vanished nearly 50 years ago. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) released the image alongside an appeal for any information related to Mr. Maguire. Originally, it was believed that he disappeared around 1973-1974, but it has now been confirmed that he returned to Northern Ireland from Manchester and was killed and buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area near Lurgan in 1976 at the age of 29. Recently in February 2022, the ICLVR included Mr. Maguire in the list of the Disappeared.
Investigators, led by Mark Pickard, have been diligently working on the Seamus Maguire case since it was referred to the ICLVR in 2022 by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Despite their efforts, a specific search site within the Aghagallon/Derryclone area has not yet been pinpointed by the ICLVR. Mark Pickard emphasized the complexity of the case dating back almost 50 years, highlighting the necessity of more information to progress. The ICLVR hopes that the newly released photograph of Mr. Maguire will trigger someone’s memory and advance the investigation further.
Dr. Sandra Peake, CEO of Wave Trauma Centre, which has been supporting the families of the Disappeared, mentioned that sharing a picture of Mr. Maguire enables individuals to visualize the person behind the term “Disappeared.” Dr. Peake expressed how Seamus’ mother was deeply affected by the years of uncertainty and longing, urging anyone with knowledge about his disappearance to come forward and assist in the quest for answers. The Disappeared were individuals who were abducted, murdered, and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Despite exhaustive searches, the bodies of four out of the 17 individuals enlisted by the ICLVR have never been located.
The tragic circumstances of the Disappeared have been intensified by recent events, including the televised series on Disney+ called “Say Nothing.” The ICLVR continues to tirelessly search for the remains of those who have not yet been found, such as Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac, and Seamus Maguire. Efforts to locate the missing individuals have faced setbacks, with recent searches yielding no success in finding Robert Nairac’s remains in October 2024. The emotional toll on the families of the Disappeared persists, underscoring the importance of uncovering the truth and providing closure to those affected by these tragic events
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