Bishop of Meath appeals for details of Disappeared

The Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, has appealed again for people with information on the so-called Disappeared to come forward.

He was speaking at a tree-planting service for them and others at Gibbstown cemetery, Co Meath. Six of the Disappeared have yet to be found. Three are believed to be buried at Coghalstown, a short distance from Gibbstown.

The Disappeared are 16 people who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in the 1970s and 1980s.

New information

After Dr Smith held a prayer service at nearby Oristown bog in September last year, new information was given to the

Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains

and last October 1st the remains of Brendan Megraw were recovered from the bog.

Dr Smith said the service “opened a few avenues in the community and further information came that resulted in one of the Disappeared being found and further information has come again”.

Yesterday he renewed the appeal and said: “I hope anyone with a scrap of information would be able to come forward and share it.” After last year’s prayer service the families of the Disappeared had refreshments in Gibbstown Community Centre and met members of the community.

The chairman of the Gibbstown centre, John O’Dwyer, said the “get-together introduced a very human element to the whole plight of the families of the Disappeared.

“Now we were speaking to people in person and not just following media coverage.”