Disappeared search extended

Police are searching a specific area of a Monaghan bog

The search for the body of a teenager abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in the 1970s, is to continue over the weekend.

Columba McVeigh, 17, from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, was kidnapped and killed in 1975.

Two previous searches have taken place at a bog at Bragan, Emyvale in County Monaghan where it is believed the body of Mr McVeigh - one of the so-called Disappeared - is buried.

Gardai began work last Monday. However, heavy rain slowed the digging on Thursday, and the operation resumed on Friday.

This is the third dig for his body in the area and follows new information being passed to the Irish Government by the IRA.

Gardai have said that an area about the size of a football field is being excavated, adjacent to where previous searches took place in 1999 and 2000.

Mr McVeigh's mother, Vera, and brother, Eugene, visited the scene where it is believed his body is buried on Wednesday.

News of a third dig at the same location came a little more than a week after the IRA said it had given new information about his grave to the Irish Government.