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Relatives make Disappeared appeal

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Mark Durkan attends service
Relatives of Northern Ireland's Disappeared have appealed for an end to the anguish of their families.

A Palm Sunday Mass held in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh marked the 10th anniversary of the work of a special commission set-up to recover the remains of those who were killed by republicans but never found during the troubles.

Catholic Primate Cardinal Sean Brady urged anyone who had information on the bodies that had yet to be found to come forward to the authorities.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan and Assembly member Dominic Bradley, who attended the remembrance mass, echoed the church leader's call.

"The families of the Disappeared have been robbed of the consolation of waking and burying their loved ones in accordance with the faith in which they were raised," said Mr Bradley.

"They have been left, in many cases for decades, asking why, and are left to wonder about their fate.

"The rest of us who have experienced deep sorrow at the death of a loved one can never imagine the anguish which the families of the Disappeared have had to endure over all these years."

The SDLP representative added: "Those who did the worst and know the most, have so far said the least."

In November the body of Danny McIlhone was recovered in co Wicklow 27 years after he was killed by the IRA.

The remains of four other IRA victims, Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory and Jean McConville have also been discovered.

But searches continue for the bodies of eight other people, including Seamus Ruddy, who was killed by the INLA.

Mr Bradley said serious questions remained about the conduct of the IRA in the cases.

"These doubts and questions must be answered in the only way possible - that all information is handed over and that those who the IRA know are withholding information are also handed over to the authorities once and for all," he said.

"The Commission for the Disappeared has been set up for 10 years now - in that time Northern Ireland has moved on to such an extent that there can be no reason for anyone with information not to come forward. It is important that this message is conveyed as widely as possible."

Meanwhile Cardinal Brady said: "Hopefully there would less names (yet to be recovered) in the future, that would be our hope.

"At the same time we don't want to raise expectations too high.

"We are grateful that the work continues and that, please God, will bear fruit."

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