Search to Locate Remains of Seamus Maguire
A search is set to commence for the remains of Seamus Maguire, a 29-year-old man from County Antrim, who is among the group known as the Disappeared. The Disappeared refers to 17 individuals who were abducted, murdered, and secretly buried during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Maguire hailed from the village of Aghagallon, near the southeast shore of Lough Neagh, and is believed to have been killed in 1976.
In a statement, the Maguire family described Seamus as "much loved" and expressed hope that he will be found so he can be laid to rest alongside their parents.
"Our Mum looked for Seamus right up until the day that she died," the family added.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) has organised a dig that will begin at Derryclone later on Tuesday. The ICLVR was established as part of the Northern Ireland peace process to locate the bodies of the Disappeared.
To date, the Commission has recovered the remains of 13 of the 17 victims. This will be the first search specifically for Seamus Maguire.
His name was only added to the ICLVR's list four years ago due to limited information about his whereabouts in the final years of his life.
The ICLVR's lead investigator, Eamonn Henry, explained the initial uncertainty surrounding Maguire's case.
"As with other Disappeared cases it was not immediately clear whether or not Seamus Maguire was a missing person case or was the victim of an abduction, murder and secret burial," said Henry.
"It was initially thought that Seamus disappeared sometime around 1973-1974," he explained.
"But it was also subsequently suggested that after spending time in Manchester he may have returned to Northern Ireland and was then killed and secretly buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area in 1976 when he was 29."
"Whatever the issues around specific dates, we are now satisfied that there is sufficient credible information to commence a search in the Derryclone area."
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, expressed his sympathy for the Maguire family, acknowledging the prolonged anguish they have endured.
"I am deeply grateful to the Commission for their unceasing efforts to find the Disappeared, and for their painstaking efforts to help ease these families' long suffering," Benn said.
He also noted that the families of Columba McVeigh, Joseph Lynskey, and Robert Nairac continue to await the return of their loved ones' remains.
Benn urged anyone with information to come forward and contact the Commission.
Two-Acre Farmland Section Targeted for Search
Maguire has been officially considered one of the Disappeared since 2022, based on information received from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
It is believed that republican paramilitaries may have been involved in his death, although the specific organisation responsible remains unclear.
Henry stated that the search will focus on a section of farmland covering approximately two acres, but the ICLVR will not impose a timeline on the operation.
"As with all our searches we will be there until we find what we are looking for or are satisfied that Seamus Maguire is not there," he said.
"There may be an assumption that because a search is underway the commission has all the information we need. That is not necessarily the case," Henry added.
"If there is anyone who has any information on this case please get it to us. All information is treated in the strictest confidence and our sole purpose is to return the remains of a loved one to their family for a Christian burial."
Maguire is one of four of the Disappeared whose remains have not yet been recovered. The others are Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, and Robert Nairac.
