'These families have suffered for 50 years': Plea for information as dig for Disappeared victim begins

'Gaps' in inquiries persist while the first physical dig in the North gets under way for Seamus Maguire, one of the final four members of the Disappeared who is still missing. Picture: ICLVR/PA

A plea for information has been made for a “much-loved elder brother” in Antrim who was disappeared by republican paramilitaries as a search begins to find his remains.

“Gaps” in inquiries persist while the first physical dig in the North gets under way for Seamus Maguire, one of the final four members of the Disappeared who is still missing.

The 29-year-old from village of Aghagallon is thought to have been killed and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries between 1973 and 1976.

It had initially been thought Mr Maguire was disappeared in 1973, but it was subsequently suggested that after spending time in Manchester he may have returned to the North and was then killed and secretly buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area in 1976, aged 29.

His name was added to those being searched for by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) in 2022.

He remains missing, along with Tyrone teenager Columba McVeigh, former monk Joe Lynskey, and soldier Robert Nairac.

(Left to right) Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac. File photo: ICLVR/PA

As preparations were made at the site of around two acres on Tuesday, ICLVR lead investigator Eamonn Henry described a big moment for the commission.

“We took on this case in February 2022, so this is four years, and all the information gathering over that time has led us to this,” he said.

“We don’t undertake searches lightly, we have to be satisfied that there is a reasonable opportunity here to find Seamus’s remains, so based on that information, that’s why we have decided to start this search, it is quite a momentous day.” 

He described Mr Maguire as a “typical young man” who took work opportunities in construction and farming.

Mr Henry made an appeal for information to fill gaps in the commission’s inquiries. “There are a lot of gaps in our inquiries, and that’s probably due to the passage of time, and this case probably lay dormant for almost 50 years,” he said.

“We are appealing for anyone who has information in relation to Seamus Maguire and his disappearance. We’re trying to piece together everything we can, we’re not going to have all the information but we are missing some key pieces.

“I am hoping there are persons out there who, if they hear this appeal today, that they will come forward. I’m asking people, if you have any snippet of information, please come forward.

Seamus’s mother, from the time he went missing until her passing, she searched tirelessly to try and recover and find where Seamus was, so I would ask people to put yourselves in her shoes.

"How would you like it if your mother was out trying to search for you, and that there were people out there with information that can help.

“So please, pass on the information so that we can recover Seamus’ body, and also the other Disappeared — Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, and Robert Nairac.

“These families have suffered for 50 years or more, I think it’s about time their bodies were recovered so we can stop the hurt for those families and the stress, and also we can draw a line under this dark period of history.” 

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While Mr Maguire’s family did not speak in the press conference in Belfast on Tuesday, in a statement they expressed hope their “much-loved elder brother” can be found, and buried in St Patrick’s graveyard in Aghagallon with their parents May and Patrick.

“Our mum looked for Seamus right up until the day that she died,” they said.

This is the first search for one of the Disappeared in the North since the remains of Peter Wilson were recovered from the beach at Waterfoot, Cushendall, in 2010.