A funeral has been held for one of the Disappeared victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles, more than 30 years after he was murdered and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries.
The remains of Seamus Ruddy, a 32-year-old teacher from Co Down, were found at Pont-de-l'Arche near Rouen in northern France last month.
Mr Ruddy was abducted in Paris then killed and buried by republican paramilitary group the INLA in 1985.
He is being reburied in his home town of Newry, Co Down, after a service at St Catherine's Dominican Chapel in the city.
Bishop John McAreavey told the funeral mass that Mr Ruddy's family had suffered years of not knowing.
In his homily, he said: "Whatever about the circumstances of his death, one thing is certain - his death represented the snuffing-out of a life that had many wholesome qualities.
"It also cut off the promise of a new life in France," he said.
"A family account of that time refers to letters and phone calls from Seamus, visits to him and plans to visit. 'And then', the account states, 'there was nothing'."
Mr Ruddy will be buried in Monks cemetery in Newry, where his parents John and Molly lie.
His relatives were supported at the funeral service by the families of other Disappeared victims.
Anne Morgan, the teacher's sister, said the other Disappeared relatives now felt like part of her family.
She also thanked everyone who had been involved in the long search.
"We will be forever grateful to you all," she said.
"In the years since his death, Seamus's family and friends kept a long vigil," said Bishop McAreavey.
"They grieved and prayed, they appealed for public support, which they hoped would lead to the recovery of his remains.
"They did this with the support of other families of the Disappeared and, in recent years, the support of civil authorities in Ireland and in France.
"In recent years they rejoiced with the families of the Disappeared whose prayers were answered. They continue, as they did at the opening of this mass, to reach out to those families who are still waiting.
"On Thursday, Seamus's family and friends welcomed him home to Newry."
He said they were able "to do what they always wanted to do - to have a wake, to celebrate a funeral mass for Seamus and to say a personal and dignified farewell to him through the funeral liturgy.
"And in the months and years ahead they will be able to visit the grave where Seamus lies."
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) recovered Mr Ruddy's remains.
The ICLVR was set up during the peace process by the Irish and UK governments to find the bodies of those secretly buried in the 1970s and 1980s.
There had been a number of previous searches in the same forest area for Mr Ruddy.
The ICLVR acted on information from someone with knowledge of the crime who was free to come forward without fear of prosecution.
Three of the 16 Disappeared victims have still to be recovered.
The remains of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac have yet to be found.
