The latest search for the body of Seamus Ruddy comes following new and detailed information, writes Barry Cummins.
Over the past two years, the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains has been assessing new information in the case of Mr Ruddy, who was killed in May 1985 in France and secretly buried.
It has long been known that the INLA was responsible, and it has long been known that Mr Ruddy’s body lies buried somewhere in a forest south of Rouen and close to the town of Pont-de-l’Arche.
There have been three previous searches in the forest – in 1999, 2000 and 2008. All ended without any trace of Mr Ruddy being found.
It is understood that the search beginning today in France is within a few dozen yards of the last search.
It is also believed former members of the INLA have been assisting the Commission in recent times in an effort to locate the precise location where Mr Ruddy was buried.
It is known that he was buried in darkness, and previous experiences in other cases of the Disappeared have shown that memories of those involved in such killings and secret burials are not always precise all these years later.
However, it is thought the Commission do believe those involved in assisting them have made a genuine attempt to pinpoint the precise location of where Mr Ruddy’s body lies.
A team of forensic archaeologists travelled from Ireland to France over the weekend to prepare for today’s search.
The search area is relatively small – about the size of half a football pitch, but the work is painstaking and methodical.
With one layer of soil being scraped at a time, searchers are looking for the tiniest indication of human remains.
Mr Ruddy’s family are being kept informed of the search, and some will visit France later this week.
Their thoughts will also be with the families of the three other families of the Disappeared who have not yet been found either.
Columba McVeigh was just a teenager when he was abducted in Dublin by the IRA and killed and secretly buried in Co Monaghan.
IRA member Joe Lynskey was killed in 1972 and buried somewhere in Co Meath.
And British soldier Robert Nairac was killed in 1977 in Co Louth. It is believed his body was buried by the IRA somewhere north of Dundalk.
