Search in north Louth for Nairac remains ends without success

The Joint Commissioners of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), Tim Dalton and Rosalie Flanagan, have said today that the search in Faughart, Co Louth, for the remains of Robert Nairac has ended without success.

Robert Nairac, a captain in the Grenadier Guards, was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in May 1977. In a joint statement Tim Dalton and Rosalie Flanagan said: “It is bitterly disappointing that the search for Robert Nairac’s remains has ended without success and our thoughts are with the Nairac family, in particular his sisters Rosemonde and Gabrielle.

"The investigation and search team did everything they could to bring about a successful outcome but clearly more information is needed and we would appeal to anyone who has information to bring it to the Commission. They can do so in the knowledge that their identity and any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence”.

The Lead Investigator of the ICLVR Jon Hill echoed the appeal for further information. Jon Hill said: “We were searching a relatively small area, less that one acre, and we did so because the information we had was credible. 

"The fact that we haven’t found Robert Nairac’s remains does not change that. It is our experience from other searches that while we have been in the right area the precise location has not been found first time round.

"There is always a concern that once it is known that we are starting a search in a particular area that it is assumed that we have all the information that we need and people who could help may think there is no need for them to talk to us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"Anyone who has any information that might help should come forward and as the Commissioners have made clear that information and their identity will be treated in the strictest confidence”.  

Jon Hill went on to emphasise the humanitarian nature of the ICLVR’s work. “Our sole interest is in returning the remains of Robert Nairac to his family so that he can be laid to rest following a proper funeral.

"Not being able to do that for nearly 50 years is a source of great pain and anguish to his now elderly sisters and the wider family. We need to be able to end that suffering”.

Anyone with information on any of the four outstanding Disappeared cases —Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire— is asked contact the ICLVR. All information, it says, is treated in the strictest confidence.

The ICLVR can be contacted at: Phone: +353 1 602 8655; E-mail information to: Secretary@iclvr.ie; By post to: ICLVR PO Box 10827 Dublin, Ireland. CrimeStoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 and the untraceable anonymous online form is at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.