The brother of disappeared Columba McVeigh, said "the ball is at the feet of republicans now" when it comes to finding his remains. Oliver McVeigh was responding to the latest apparent revelation about his brother's disappearance almost 50 years ago. The 20-year-old from Co. Tyrone was living in Dublin on Halloween night 1975 when he went out to buy a pack of cigarettes and was never seen again. The IRA later admitted abducting and murdering Columba McVeigh. They had driven him to Monaghan, shot and secretly buried him in Bragan Bog.
Now, a republican has contacted the Belfast Telegraph newspaper giving information, which could lead to his Monaghan grave. According to reputable journalist, Suzanne Breen, the caller said a current member of Sinn Féin could lead searchers to within "five metres squared" of Columba's burial location. He also said he believes previous searches of Bragan Bog, which "likely cost millions", were "deliberately misleading".
The man who dug the grave meant for Columba McVeigh initially thought he was digging a hole to dump arms in but, then realised what was about to happen. He was told to go home and tell nobody. That man is currently a member of Sinn Féin, according to the caller. The republican said he contacted the media about Columba McVeigh's case because of the "Say Nothing" drama about Troubles-related cases on Disney +.
Columba's brother, Oliver, said when their mother passed away in 2007, she asked him to continue the search for her middle son. Today on the Joe Finnegan Show, Oliver said, it's not too late for those involved to do the right thing:
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains has found the bodies of 13 of the IRA disappeared so far. It has located what it believes to be the remains of Joe Lynskey in Anyalla a fortnight ago.
