The quest for the remains of covert British military personnel Robert Nairac, one of those mysteriously vanished, is set to commence in Co Louth come Monday. The hunt will span a relatively modest plot of land, less than an acre, in the Faughart region as declared by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR). This is the inaugural exploration for Mr Nairac ever since his secretive burial post-assassination by the IRA in May 1977.
Serving as a captain in the Grenadier Guards, he was on a covert mission when he was kidnapped from the Three Steps Bar in Dromintee in the southernly parts of Armagh and whisked away to Ravensdale Forest near Dundalk where he fell to beating and gunfire. He is one among the 17 known as the Disappeared, who were slaughtered and secretly interred by the paramilitary during the tumultuous times in the North. Four of these, inclusive of Mr Nairac, remain unaccounted for.
Jon Hill, the spearheading investigator with the ICLVR, expressed that Mr Nairac is “among the most high-profile Disappeared and yet, his case is one where we’ve had scarce leads. We now think we have enough credible information to justify a search.” According to Mr Hill, the exploration would “contrast with the recently completed, and tragically unsuccessful, search for Columba McVeigh at Bragan Bog, Co Monaghan.”
“Firstly, it’s being conducted on privately-owned land and the landlord and contract farmer have requested that the exact location remains undisclosed for their privacy, a request we accept and hope that the media, in particular, will respect as we begin our search.” He added that “it must be emphasised that neither the landlord nor the lessee have any link to our decision to explore this specific site.”
Mr. Hill noted that although the area they’re working within is small, not exceeding a single acre of land, it still presents a more stable ground compared to the marshlands previously engaged in while searching for the Disappeared. He expressed optimism towards the weather conditions and mentioned that this search may be uninterrupted.
This particular location is part of a broader region known for archaeological significance. Mr. Hill shared his gratitude towards the National Monuments Service for their aid and participation. The Hill of Faughart is reportedly within this region, marked as a battlefield from the 14th century. As such, it’s likely for ancient artefacts or historical remains to be discovered. In preparation for such an event, additional precautions have been taken to avoid significant disturbances to the search.
Mr. Hill confirmed that the search would persist until they either find the remaining individuals they are looking for or confirm they are not in the area. While the search period is not time-constrained, he believes the search won’t extend for several months due to the relatively small area. The Nairac family has been made aware that the search is about to begin, and they will be kept updated with any progress made.
Regarding the likelihood of finding the remains of Robert Nairac, Mr. Hill wouldn’t provide any specific numbers but reassured that if they are in the area, their team has the necessary skills and experience to locate them.
Highlighting outstanding ICLVR Disappeared cases – Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac, and Seamus Maguire, he urged anyone with relevant information to confidentially get in touch with the ICLVR by phone on 00800-55585500 or +353 1 602 8655, email to [email protected] or via post at ICLVR PO Box 10827.