The Government has confirmed plans to establish a cross-border commission to over-see the recovery of bodies of missing IRA victims. The move follows the recent announcement from the organisation that they had located the graves of nine people killed in the 1970s and 1980s.
The move is an attempt to speed the recovery of the bodies of nine IRA victims and head off problems that had been developing since they indicated its willingness to help. Although both governments said that they would not prosecute anyone involved in these efforts, and would pass legislation to this effect, it appears that Republicans remain suspicious.
Now it has been confirmed that a 3-person commission will be set up as a buffer between the IRA and the governments. It will comprise a member from the Republic, one from the North and an international figure. The body may operate along the lines of the International Decommissioning Body, which can issue amnesty certificates for those involved in approved attempts to decommission illegal weapons. The legislation is to be rushed through the Dáil and Westminster by the end of the month.
Since the IRA said that it had located the bodies of its victims last month, there have been complaints that it was backtracking on promises to aid in their recovery and imposing conditions. The organisation denies this, but there is no doubt its action, at the time, in branding the victims as spies and informers caused great offence. Relatives now hope that this latest development will hasten the day when they can bury their loved ones with dignity.
