merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D., spoke today following confirmation that human remains recovered recently by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in France are those of Seamus Ruddy, one of the Disappeared.

The Tánaiste said: “Our thoughts today are with Seamus Ruddy’s family. While I know that this news will be bring mixed emotions for them, I hope the confirmation of the discovery of his remains will provide some comfort to his family after such a long period of suffering for them.

"I want to thank the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains for their tireless, ongoing work on behalf of the families of the Disappeared. That work will continue to have our full support with the aim of ensuring that the remains of the other victims will be located. Anybody with any information that can assist in that task should bring it forward without delay.”

Note to editors

Seamus Ruddy, from Newry, was a 33-year-old English teacher in Paris, France when he disappeared in May 1985. The INLA admitted responsibility for his death in December 1995. In February 1999, information emerged to suggest that his body was buried at a location near Rouen, France, but previous searches there by the ICLVR had not recovered his remains.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) was established by an Agreement between the Irish and British Governments in 1999, and by legislation enacted in both jurisdictions. The ICLVR is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence who were murdered and secretly buried during the troubles.

Information about the missing victims is fundamental to the ICLVR’s work. The ICLVR needs further information to be able to progress its investigations into the remaining disappeared victims - Seamus Ruddy, Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh and Robert Nairac. The ICLVR operates a freephone telephone number – 00800 55585500 – and a PO Box address – PO Box 10827, Dublin 2, Ireland – to receive information in confidence which may assist in locating the remains of victims.