A search for the remains of Columba McVeigh on Bragan Bog in County Monaghan is currently underway this lunchtime.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains announced earlier that the search for the remains of the 19 year old began this afternoon.
The search for the remains of Columba who disappeared in October 1975 was paused over the winter due to heavy rainfall. Columba McVeigh was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1975.
The current search which started in early October 2022 was suspended at the beginning of November when the ground conditions on the bog were becoming too dangerous for contractors and archaeologists to continue to work on it. Jon Hill has been appointed as the Lead Investigator following the retirement last week of Geoff Knupfer and will lead this search that is now underway in the Monaghan bog.
Speaking from the Monaghan search site today Jon Hill the ICLVR's Lead Investigator said that they always intended to resume the search for Columba at the earliest opportunity.
In terms of the way ahead we will continue to methodically work our way through phase one of the search which will take us up to the tree line. Clearly we hope we find Columba before then but if we have to clear a section of the forest then we'll do it, he said.
John Hill added that every time we undertake a search the thoughts of everyone involved are with the McVeigh family. Our focus is on doing everything we can to bring this search to a successful conclusion.
The lead investigator said If the remains of Columba are in this part of the bog we will find them". Jon Hill went on to emphasise that the fact that the search had recommenced did not mean that anyone who has information about where Columba is buried
should assume that it is no longer relevant.
