There was sharp criticism of an IRA claim last night that it had no further information to provide on the locations of the bodies of the "disappeared". Briefing journalists on both sides of the Border, the organisation claimed the passage of time had hampered its efforts to trace the remains of its victims.
The paramilitary group said it had proven impossible to pinpoint the precise whereabouts of victims' bodies in some instances. "The IRA leadership approached this issue in good faith but their investigation was hampered by the length of time, changes of leadership and the deaths of members and former members of the IRA," the IRA said. Mrs Mary Robinson, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, said the IRA needed to do more: "I would hope that it would be possible to provide more factual material and I would call on the IRA and anyone who can help to expedite this process to do so - it is so important that the families, now that their hopes have been raised, would have an opportunity to bury their family members in respect and love."
Mrs Helen McKendry, a daughter of the late Mrs Jean McConville, said: "I don't think the IRA are acting sincerely in this. I really don't think they care about any of the families. Why are they changing their story now? The IRA said they would hand back the bodies once the `war' was over. Are they now saying the war is not over? We've still got to hope at the end of the day that we get something here."
Mr Seamus McKendry, son-in-law of Mrs McConville, dismissed the IRA statement: "This is nothing we haven't heard before." He again called for an IRA representative to join the search for Mrs McConville at Templetown Beach, Co Louth, to point out where she was buried. Earlier, Mgr Denis Faul said the IRA had not given accurate information: "I am prepared to give two more days or three more days for the gardai to see whether they can produce something, but I think the IRA are not prepared to risk their necks and did not give them accurate information - maybe they didn't even give the right locations."
He said he was beginning to think that, while Mr Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein "sought sincerely to get information, their own men simply wouldn't give it to them". The IRA would not worry about the agony the families.
Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Adams, has urged individuals with more precise information about the location of the bodies to provide details to the commission appointed to oversee the return of remains.
"There is always a possibility that someone out there has some little piece of information or that someone's memory has been triggered by the television images that we have seen. If that is the case then I would certainly urge such individuals to give that information to the commission as soon as possible," Mr Adams said.
"I, like everyone else, believe the fact that this is going on for so long is a source of unimaginable pain for those that are witnessing it. I think the whole nation is watching and I hope that the remains will be retrieved as quickly as possible," he added. Mr Adams said the delay in locating the bodies was due to geological changes since the victims were killed, up to 27 years ago.
"My understanding, having been in touch with the intermediaries over recent days, is that all information uncovered by the IRA is in the hands of the commission," added Mr Adams. "It is my view that, once the IRA came to the position of wanting to return these remains, it wants to do so as quickly as possible."
Challenged that he had been insensitive to the families by stating that the victims had been informers, something "reviled" by the republican tradition, Mr Adams said he was aware of the sensitivities of the families.
"I know the least said, and by me, and perhaps particularly by me, the better on these issues and I'm very conscious of the sensitivities involved." Attempts should now be made to close the sad chapter so healing could begin within the families and the peace process, he added.
Garda sources said last night they would not be discouraged from continuing their searches by the doubts cast yesterday on the accuracy of the information provided by the IRA.
One senior garda said the search was always going to be "a long laborious effort" because of the difficult terrain at the sites. There was "no question" of winding down the searches tomorrow.