Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that the search for the disappeared victim, Columba McVeigh, has resumed on Bragan Mountain, County Monaghan. The family of Columba McVeigh, the young teenager who was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA, have spoken of their new hope of finding the remains of their beloved Columba. To date, five searches have been conducted on Bragan Mountain since 1999 but, unfortunately, without success. The trauma and the search continues until they find Columba's body.

I was deeply taken by the recent comments of Columba's brother Oliver, when he talked about the family's trauma and the journey they have been on. I will quote what he said this week on top of Bragan Mountain.

I’m going to keep fighting and keep scrapping and keep at these people till I find my brother’s body. It’s not for me, it’s ... for my mother who always wanted this to happen and made me promise when she knew she wasn’t going to live, to get this to happen. She always said she would go to her grave happy if Columba was in the grave with her and her husband.

My heart goes out to that family who, for the past 47 years, have been through a living hell. I am sure that everyone in the House will join with me to ask anybody who has any information whatsoever that might lead to Columba's body being found, to please come forward and to know that by doing so their confidentiality is completely protected, so that this family can finally put their brother's body along with their mother and father to rest in peace, amen.