Ms Anne Morgan:

My name is Anne Morgan and I am a sister of Seamus Ruddy, who has been one of the disappeared for 29 years. There were seven known cases of people abducted in the course of the Troubles and secretly buried. However, that figure may be higher, given that a few cases have come forward.

Given the circumstances of many of the cases, the families have been left isolated and vulnerable. It is only in recent years that we have begun to meet together. We formed a group called the Families of the Disappeared, which is supported through WAVE. WAVE has worked to connect the families through a variety of means. A yearly remembrance Mass is held on Psalm Sunday in St. Patrick's School, Armagh, at which the Cardinal usually officiates. The yearly event has brought immense comfort to those who continue to struggle with the pain and grief of loss, in addition to the lack of knowledge of the final resting place of their loved one.

We also have an All Souls silent walk at Stormont. The families lay a wreath on the steps of Stormont to show those who are working in Stormont that we have not gone away and that we need to be regarded as people to whom it is worthwhile to talk.

In addition, the families lobby by meeting with committees such as this one, political parties and special envoys. Other special events have been facilitated also to keep our families together.

Having come before this committee we must ask what it can do for us. This is an accurate, information driven process. Seven individuals are still missing. In my brother's case, he is reportedly buried in France. In the case of Sean Megraw, who is on my left, his brother, Brendan, is buried in Meath. There are three other cases in the areas of Meath and Navan. Kevin McKee, Seamus Wright and Joe Lynskey. Columba McVeigh is reportedly buried in Monaghan. Robert Nairac's remains are unknown.

The committee members can help by wearing a Forget Me Not badge, which we as a group have developed. I am wearing one of the badges, which is a representation of forget me know flowers to show that we exist. It is very important for people to wear it. We would like people to wear a badge, if they can do so, going about their daily work to remind people that we are still here. The committee can help us also by facilitating the Families of the Disappeared exhibition, which we hope will come to the South of Ireland and perhaps be located in its members' area.

We know there are individuals who have not spoken. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, the ICLVR, is in place for information. That commission is the last of the Good Friday Agreement commissions.

This is unfinished business. We need publicity. We need people to remember that the disappeared remain disappeared. Two and a half million people watched the RTE-BBC documentary "The Disappeared" last month. Ten thousand people recently walked through the disappeared exhibition in Belfast City Hall. We hope that information has come, but we need the committee's support.

We thank the Irish Government and the British Government for their continued and valued support. Since 1999, the families of the disappeared have been given a voice, mainly through WAVE's support. In 1985, I received a death threat if I spoke about my brother's disappearance. That is why I am here now. I have been given a voice.

This committee can help us with our campaign to highlight the disappeared issue and to bring it to the attention of the politicians both North and South of the Border. Meeting with the members has helped me and has given me a voice.