Second body found in Meath search

Investigators have uncovered a second body in their search for the disappeared in Meath.

The Independent Commission for the location of Victims Remains has confirmed that the remains of two people have been uncovered at a site in Coghalstown.

The body uncovered earlier today is believed to be that of Joe Lynskey, who went missing from west Belfast in 1972.

Investigators believe that Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee were also buried in the vicinity.

Senior investigator Jon Hill said the conditions of the site are difficult for search purposes.

"This land in particular has changed dramatically from when this event happened, it was all bogland, it's been reclaimed in the mid-80s, a lot of restoration work was undertaken," said Mr Hill

"So we were really up against it and there was a good possibility that we might have found nothing, it might have been disturbed to such an extent that it was not there to be found anymore. But thankfully that has not been the case."

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has welcomed news that the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains has recovered human remains in County Meath.

“The uncertainty over who has been recovered must be hugely traumatic for the families involved. I am sure that the Commission will move as speedily as it can to verify the identity of those who have been found," said Mr Adams.

“I thank everyone who has helped in the search of the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA. Republicans have co-operated fully with the Commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families.

“Today’s discovery is an important step toward the recovery of all of those killed and secretly buried.

“I want to appeal again for anyone with any information on those remains still not found to bring that information forward to the families, to the Commission or myself.

“Any information passed to the Commission cannot be used in a court of law or transmitted to any other agency and those passing on this information have absolute immunity in relation to this information,” said Mr Adams.

Investigators will continue their efforts from first light at a site in Coghalstown (pron: calls town) county Meath.