The Disappeared: Annual silent walk remembers victims

A wreath of lilies was laid at the steps of Stormont to remember the Disappeared

The body of Joe Lynskey, one of the Disappeared, "needs to be brought home", his niece has told BBC News NI.

Mr Lynskey, a former Cistercian monk who later joined the IRA, was abducted and murdered by republicans in 1972.

The call comes after about 50 people took part in an annual silent walk for the Disappeared at Stormont.

The walk is to remember 17 people abducted, murdered, secretly buried and never located during the Troubles.

So far, the remains of 13 people have been recovered. The remaining four are Mr Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Seamus Maguire and Robert Nairac.

• Who were the Disappeared?

The disappearance of Mr Maguire was taken on as a new case by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) in 2022.

The ICLVR was established by the British and Irish governments in 1999.

Joe Lynskey was a former Cistercian monk who later joined the IRA

Those attending Thursday's event walked from Carson's Statue to the steps of Parliament Buildings where they laid a black wreath with five white lilies.

The lilies represented Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac, Seamus Maguire and Lisa Dorrian.

Ms Dorrian, a 25-year-old shop assistant, vanished after attending a party at a caravan park in Ballyhalbert, a seaside village in County Down, in 2005.

'He didn't deserve to be in a bog'

Speaking to BBC News NI, Mr Lynskey's niece Maria described the Disappeared as "one of the most horrific, horrific things that ever happened".

"It's important for me to be here because my uncle existed, he didn't deserve to be in a bog in the south, he didn't deserve that," she continued.

"So it's important for us to remember them."

The event took place at Stormont, where there is currently no functioning assembly or executive.

"Where else do you go?" Maria Lynskey said. "There's nobody here to see us but the press will come so we're able to give that publicity."

Maria Lynskey said she wanted to see her uncle's body found

She also said it was important for the families of the Disappeared - those whose bodies had been found and those whose have not - to come together to support each other.

"We've become a family," she said.

"You see the people but you don't see the pain. We've all been through enough.

"But we're still hopeful and if anybody has any information please, for the sake of all of use, please give it over to the commission."

Disappeared families ' standing in solidarity'

That appeal was echoed by Lisa Dorrian's sister, Joanne.

• Timeline: The disappearance of Lisa Dorrian

It is presumed Ms Dorrian was murdered.

The ICLVR can only take cases from before the Good Friday Agreement, but the WAVE Trauma Centre, a Troubles victims' support group, include Ms Dorrian as one of the Disappeared.

Joanne Dorrian said the annual walk was a chance to remind people the Disappeared are still out there, and it is not too late for people with information to come forward.

John and Joanne Dorrian, relatives of Lisa, also took part in the walk

"Every family here today has been touched by one of their loved ones being disappeared," she said.

"Even the families of all those who have been recovered stand today in solidarity because it's a very unique set of circumstances to find yourself in.

"The fact that we all stand here together is a powerful show of strength and emotion and helps us all to carry on with the hope that we have that our loved ones will be returned to us."

• Who were the Disappeared?

• Timeline: The disappearance of Lisa Dorrian

For Columba McVeigh's sister, Dympna Kerr, the anniversary of her brother's disappearance leaves her feeling "sick to the pit of my stomach".

Mr McVeigh, from Donaghmore, County Tyrone, was 19 years old when he was kidnapped on 1 November 1975.

A number of searches for his body have been carried out in Bragan Bog in County Monaghan.

Columba McVeigh's sister Dympna calls for those with information about her brother to come forward

"You waken up in the morning [of a search] and you think: 'Today, we'll maybe get that phone call, today we've found him'," she told BBC News NI.

"You go to bed and you haven't got the phone call that they've found him, you say your prayers and you think tomorrow it'll come - but tomorrow doesn't seem to come.

"When there's no search going on, your biggest fear is: Will we get another search?"

Columba McVeigh, 19, was kidnapped in 1975

She urged those with information about her brother to get in contact to give her and her family closure, as well as a place to grieve.

"I'm being selfish when I say this: I want to walk behind his coffin. I look forward to that day," she said. "How many people look forward to walking behind a brother's coffin?"

"I can't go to the bog and think Columba's here," she added.

"I have this picture of him standing there and somebody putting a bullet in the back of his head, so I'd rather not think of the bog."