A sad episode in our history

Although it will be some weeks before the skeletal remains found on a beach near Carlingford in Co Louth can be conclusively identified by DNA, it seems highly probable following the post-mortem that they are those of the late Jean McConville, who was murdered by the IRA in 1972.

She was shot in the back of the head in what must rank as one of the greatest outrages ever perpetrated in the name of republicanism.

The Provisional IRA has accepted responsibility for the outrage. Some of these so-called republicans pose as Catholics, though any decent person must question whether they even understand the most basic tenets of Christianity.