Forensic detectives are confident new intelligence on the location of Peter Wilson's remains is reliable, writes DAN KEENAN,Northern News Editor, in Waterfoot, Co Antrim
A SEARCH has begun in Co Antrim for one of the “Disappeared” – those abducted, killed and secretly buried by paramilitaries during the Troubles.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, has begun surveying a beach at a renowned beauty spot for a man missing for the past 37 years.
It is the first such search to be carried out in the North and could take many months.
The British-Irish commission, reacting to what it believes to be accurate and reliable intelligence, is searching a 250-metre stretch of sea front at Waterfoot in the Glens of Antrim for the remains of a west Belfast man.
Peter Wilson (21), who had learning difficulties, disappeared from the family home in the St James’s area of the Falls Road in August 1973 and has not been seen since. His family yesterday described him as “a vulnerable young man”.
Nothing was heard of Mr Wilson, the fourth in a family of six, for many years. There were rumours about his burial spot three years ago, but these came to nothing.
The commission confirmed yesterday, however, that more information is being made available about the locations of various IRA victims. It is this that has prompted the belief that Mr Wilson is buried in the Waterfoot area, where his surviving family members used to take their holidays, unaware their missing relative was said to be buried there. The missing man’s parents, Henry and Elizabeth, have died since their son disappeared. But his surviving brother and sisters spoke yesterday of their hopes for the future.
“Since 1973, we have thought about him often and wondered what had happened to him,” they said in a statement.
“We are so relieved that a search for his body will start. The beach at Waterfoot was a place we have visited often over the years with our mother and children, unaware that Peter was buried there.” Geoff Knupfer, the forensic detective specialist with the commission, told The Irish Tiimes yesterday he was confident new intelligence, received several months ago, is reliable. But a major concern is the possibility that the shifting sands and tides along the Glens of Antrim coast may complicate the search.
Overlooking the windblown scene, he said: “We are satisfied the information is correct. Our great concern of course is that this particular area is exposed to the elements over the years and erosion could have taken place.
“We have taken advice from experts who can interpret what’s happened in the intervening period and we are hopeful and confident that the burial site hasn’t been compromised in that time.” The commission has drafted in geophysicists, forensic archaeologists, radar specialists and a specialist handler, whose dog Sam is trained in the location of human remains and has worked internationally.
They have begun what was described by Mr Knupfer as a non-invasive examination of the search site. The search dog and the various specialists are assessing the terrain for any signs of abnormality before mechanical diggers are introduced, probably as early as next week.
Members of the wider Wilson family have walked along the strand, hoping a discovery will be made which would end their 37 years of uncertainty. The commission is careful to keep them fully informed while managing their expectations.
“This is all very distressing for them,” Mr Knupfer said.
“This site is a well-known holiday resort and it appears that the family used to spend some holidays here, so from that aspect it’s very distressing indeed. But they are delighted and thrilled that at long last work is being undertaken to try and find their missing brother. How successful that will be remains to be seen.”
He added: “With all the families [of the Disappeared] we try to manage expectations so they don’t just assume that just because we are going to start working we are going to find the victim.”
Aware of this, the family has said: “We pray the search will bring closure for our family and we will finally be able to give Peter a Christian burial beside our mother and father. May he rest in peace.”