Shotgun residue found in 'Disappeared' victim's car

Shotgun residue was discovered in the car of a father of five abducted and murdered by republican paramilitaries at the height of Troubles, an inquest heard today.

Charlie Armstrong, one of the so-called Disappeared, suffered an unnatural and violent death after he went missing on his way to Mass on August 16, 1981.

Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard the body of the 54-year-old, from Rathview Park, Crossmaglen, south Armagh, was weighed down with stones when it was discovered in a bog near Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, on July 29, 2010.

His family believe he was abducted and murdered by the IRA, but no organisation has claimed responsibility for the killing

Geoff Knupfer, head of the investigation team with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), revealed Mr Armstrong’s body had been too badly decomposed to determine an exact cause of death.

“Due to the age and state of the remains the cause of death was inconclusive,” he added.

Shotgun residue was found in the front passenger seat and boot of Mr Armstrong’s car, located in Dundalk the day after he vanished.

Prof Marie Cassidy, the Republic’s state pathologist, said the cause of death could not be determined but that his skull had been badly damaged.

“The skull was very badly damaged which may suggest there had been some injuries, but I can’t prove it,” she added.

Mr Armstrong’s now elderly widow, Kathleen Armstrong, was supported in the courtroom by her five children and extended family.

She said 29 years after his disappearance she was called to identify a number a personal items recovered from the bog, which included her late husband’s dentures, a waistcoat he wore every Sunday, size seven brown slip-on shoes, socks and a St Brigid’s Badge.

“I either stitched it on to his pocket or put it in there to keep him safe,” she added.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell asked senior investigator Jonathan Hill if Mr Armstrong had died by unnatural and violent means.

“That’s not disputed at all,” he replied.

Mr Knupfer said Mr Armstrong had no paramilitary connections.

While his murder had not been admitted by a terror group, his remains were found less than 300 metres away from the bodies of John McClory and Brian McKinney – whose murders were admitted by the IRA.

Mr Knupfer said given the similarity of this case with other Disappeared cases he believed Mr Armstrong had been abducted and his death carried out by a paramilitary organisation.

A piece of twine found under the body may have been used as a bind, he added.

A total of 16 men and women were abducted and killed by republican paramilitaries in the North. Nine bodies have been recovered.

A jury at Dublin City Coroner’s Court recorded a verdict of death by unlawful killing and found Mr Armstrong suffered an unnatural and violent death at the hands of a paramilitary organisation by persons unknown.

The inquest into the death of another one of the Disappeared, 24-year-old Gerard Evans from south Armagh who vanished in 1979, will be heard in the Dublin courthouse this afternoon.