Excavation for Charles Brooke Pickard’s remains is ended

The 16-day excavation for the remains Charles Brooke Pickard in south Kerry ended on Friday without result — but the investigation is continuing.

Gardai and army personnel had excavated a site near the mountain pass of Ballaghisheen close to where Mr Pickard’s van had been burnt out 25 years ago.

The missing man’s son, Crohan, who was seven at the time said the family is still hopeful of finding “peace”. “We are hopeful that someone will come forward with the location,” said Crohan. Now a father of five, Crohan said the priority for the family was “peace, not vengeance”.

Mr Pickard, a father of four, who had moved from the UK, was last seen being bundled into his van at White Strand, Castlecove by armed and masked men on Friday April 26, 1991, after setting out from home to go turf-cutting.

His wife Penny and the couple’s four children never saw him again.