Legislation passed to help Disappeared families
New legislation to help relatives of those murdered and dumped by the IRA in Northern Ireland has been passed.
Monday, 27 April 2009
The Presumption of Death Bill will allow the families of the so-called Disappeared, who have never found the bodies of the victims, to settle their affairs.
It will enable families to receive death certificates if their loved ones have been missing for seven years, paving the way for resolution of their estate.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds told the Northern Ireland Assembly: "While a piece of paper cannot erase or even ease the suffering that the families of all missing persons endure, it may help in the grieving process and bring some small measure of comfort."
The High Court may declare that a missing person may be "presumed dead" for the issuing of death certificates.
A total of five of the Disappeared, Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory, Jean McConville and Danny McIlhone, have been found.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried nine of the victims - Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Ms McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, Mr McClory, Mr McKinney, Mr Molloy and Mr McIlhone - in secret locations.
Others who vanished during the conflict include Gerry Evans, Charles Armstrong, Robert Nairac - who are also thought to have been murdered by the IRA - and Seamus Ruddy, who disappeared in France and whose murder was admitted by the splinter republican Irish National Liberation Army.
Mr Dodds added: "The vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland will never find themselves in the position of having to need this Bill.
"But there are families out there who are in the awful position of having a family member go missing.
"For those families, and in particular the families of the Disappeared, I trust this new legislation will provide some practical assistance in dealing with the emotional, financial and legal problems that can arise."
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