The Bishop of Meath has made a fresh appeal for information that might help to find the bodies of victims who disappeared during the Troubles in the North. His comments were made as a search is underway in Coghalstown bog, close to Oristown in Co. Meath were the body of Brendan Megraw (23) was discovered last October.
At the close of the Confirmation ceremony in Oristown parish on Wednesday 18 March 2015, Bishop Michael Smith made the following comments:
You will be aware that the Commission searching for The Disappeared is engaged at present in another search at Coghalstown bog, prompted by new information received. That four young men were murdered and their bodies dumped in unmarked graves in this area is a deep stain on the good name of this parish. These actions have brought immense pain and suffering to their extended families over the past forty years. All the families want is to give their loved ones a decent Christian burial. Sadly there may be people in the area that have information which would help in bringing closure to this sorry saga. No retribution is suffered by anyone giving information since a law enacted both here and in Britain protects them. In these circumstances that anyone in a position to relieve the suffering and pain of the families would refuse to do is a challenge to their conscience. They will ultimately be accountable before God.
The Commission, which is independent, co-ordinates the searches using the latest forensic techniques. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Commission, which treats information as confidential. The Commission explains that all information received is privileged – it cannot be passed on to other agencies or used in a court of law.
