Missing murder victims' families give each other strength, says sister

Dympna Kerr (left) and Maria Lynskey - the niece of Joe Lynskey - took part in the annual memorial walk

The sister of a missing murder victim has said she does not know how she would cope without the support and solidarity of other bereaved families.

Dympna Kerr's brother Columba McVeigh was just 19 when he was kidnapped by the IRA on 1 November 1975 and was never seen again.

The teenager was one of a group of victims known as the Disappeared who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried in separate attacks by paramilitaries.

At the start of November each year, the Families of the Disappeared hold a silent walk in the grounds of Stormont and lay a wreath at the steps of Parliament Buildings.

"Those of us still waiting and those who have had loved ones returned are one family," she said.

"The warmth and strength and solidarity that is brought together is incredible.

"The silence and fear of the past is gone. Now we speak out. We will not be silent.

"We will not rest until the terrible wrong of denying our loved ones a Christian burial is put right and all the Disappeared are returned home."

Relatives of the dead and missing and their supporters walk through the grounds of Stormont each year around the religious feast day of All Souls' Day

Mr McVeigh, from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, was one of 17 murder victims who went missing during the Troubles.

Their disappearances were all investigated by the Independent Commission for The Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR).

The ICLVR was set up during the Northern Ireland peace process to search for the bodies of the missing victims.

To date, four of the 17 victims are still missing including Mr McVeigh, Joe Lynskey; Seamus Maguire and Captain Robert Nairac.

However, the ICLVR's remit means it can only investigate Troubles-era cases dating up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The five lilies represent the five victims who are still missing

The Families of the Disappeared also campaigns on behalf of the families of murder victims including Lisa Dorrian and Gareth O'Connor.

Ms Dorrian disappeared in 2005 and has still not been found.

Mr O'Connor went missing in 2003, his body was found in 2005.

Because paramilitary organisations are believed to be involved in their deaths, the campaign group counts their cases as being among the Disappeared.

On Sunday, the campaigners laid a black wreath with five white lilies at the steps of Stormont.

The five flowers represent Mr McVeigh, Mr Lynskey; Mr Maguire; Capt Nairac and Ms Dorrian.

Ms Kerr, who said "not a day passes" that she does not think and pray for her brother, expressed her faith in the experts during Sunday's memorial event.

"I meet the ICLVR team, the forensic archaeologists and the contractors who have worked on the Disappeared cases from the beginning and their commitment gives me hope," she said.

"If Columba is there they will find him.

"But it is more than that. Their dedication and compassion gives me strength."

The annual memorial event is organised by the WAVE Trauma Centre.

Its chief executive, Sandra Peake, said this year was particularly poignant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mr McVeigh's disappearance.

Since 1999, the ICLVR has carried out a number of digs in a bog in County Monaghan in a bid to locate the teenager's remains.

A new search of Bragan Bog began in August after a two-year hiatus.

3 November 2025: This article was updated to correct an error in the original version.