Forensic scientist to be called in to find 'disappeared'

Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said that the Irish and British government's will bring in a forensic scientist to assist with a renewed effort to find the five undiscovered bodies of the disappeared.

During the 1970s and 1980s 'Troubles', the IRA abducted, killed and disposed of a number of people whose bodies have never been found - of the original list of nine people, five bodies have not been found. The remains of four people were found between 1999 and 2003 in Counties Louth and Monaghan after the IRA said that it knew the whereabouts of nine people murdered by its members. The last find was the body of Jean McConville in County Louth in 2003.

Speaking at a conference in Navan on Monday evening Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said that it was not good enough that Sinn Féin should place the responsibility for the disappeared onto the Irish government.

He again called on republicans to end violence, paramilitarism and criminality.

Families of those still missing have urged republicans to release more detailed information to help in the discovery of the missing bodies.

An expert, such as the forensic archaeologist who assisted police in the hunt for the victims of the Moors murders, will be funded to help in the search for the remains of the disappeared.

(SP)