Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Effects of Violence: Discussion with Families of the Disappeared, WAVE Trauma Centre and Peace Factory

11:55 am

Ms Anne Morgan:

I would like to answer a few questions that came up. The responsibility of this committee is to highlight our issue both North and South and to those who have the answers to the location of our loved ones' bodies. In my case, my brother is buried in France so it is very difficult for my family to access the French authorities in any way. If anyone in the committee knows a way of getting to the area where our Seamus is buried which is called Pont de l'Arche outside Rouen, I would be very happy to work with them. In our case, as we out of the jurisdiction both North and South and in Great Britain, we as a family need that extra support which we have not had at all. Since 1985, I have written religiously and quietly to the Department of Foreign Affairs in the South. I tried my best to keep Seamus's name alive and I hope I have done that through the campaign and that the committee can help us as a family in some small way to overcome the issues we are facing which relate to getting into the French situation.

On a broader issue, we as families need always to hear that the members are giving us support even if it is only mentioning us when they are doing interviews or in their constituencies. We continually need to hear that people are thinking about us. Even that in a small way is very important so we can continue this struggle. As members have said, recovering and burying a body and going to a graveside are so important. It really is very important. I hope that all the families of the disappeared will receive their loved ones back and we will be able to give them Christian burials. If that day does come, I would like all the members to come to those burials.

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