Human remains discovered in bogland in Carrickrobin, Co Louth, last month have been formally identified as Gerry Evans, one of the Disappeared.
Mr Evans, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was last seen hitch-hiking outside Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in March 1979.
It is believed the then 24-year-old was abducted and murdered by the IRA.
In a statement today the group formed by the British and Irish governments to recover the Disappeared said: ‘The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Mr Gerard Evans.
‘Dr Brian Farrell, Coroner for the City of Dublin has accepted this as evidence of identification and has authorised the release of the remains to the family.
‘The thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with the Evans family at this difficult time.’
Reacting to the news, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: 'I welcome today's confirmation that the remains recovered recently by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in Co Louth are those of Gerry Evans.
'My thoughts are with the Evans family, who have suffered the pain of not knowing his fate for so many years.
'As I have said before, I do not think those of us who have not experienced what it is like to have a loved one go missing can truly understand the heartache it causes.
'But we can at least give thanks that after 31 long years the Evans family will be able to give Gerry a proper burial.
'I also want to highlight the role of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains and thank the staff of the Commission for all their hard work on this case and on all the cases of the disappeared.'
In 1999 the IRA admitted it had killed and secretly buried nine of the 16 Disappeared, while the republican Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) has been linked to one of the deaths.
