Human remains moved off mountain

Human remains thought to be that of one of the Troubles era Disappeared have been removed from the Wicklow mountains in the Republic of Ireland.

It is believed they could be that of Danny McIlhone who disappeared from his west Belfast home 27 years ago.

A hearse containing a coffin bearing the remains left the remote site at Ballynulty early on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement the McIlhone family said they hoped they were Danny's remains and appealed for privacy.

"We sincerely hope and pray that these are the remains of Danny and that their discovery will allow us to afford Danny a proper Christian burial and to finally lay him to rest," it said.

They said their thoughts were with the families of the rest of the Disappeared and that they hoped "in the course of time they will be successful in locating the remains of their relatives which will afford them the opportunity to bring closure to their loss".

The remains - found earlier this month - will be taken to Dublin coroner's office for formal identification.

This could take four weeks to complete.

Mr McIlhone went missing from his home in 1981. The IRA has since claimed responsibility for his death.

There have been two unsuccessful searches - in 1999 and 2000 - for Danny McIlhone's remains.

In a statement in 1999, the IRA said Mr McIlhone was not suspected of being an informer but was being "questioned" about stealing IRA weapons.

'Struggle'

It claimed that he was killed in a struggle with the person who was guarding him.

The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried nine of the so-called Disappeared - Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Jean McConville, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megraw, John McClory, Brian McKinney, Eamon Molloy and Mr McIlhone - in secret locations.

The bodies of four - Eamon Molloy, Brian McKinney, John McClory and Jean McConville - have been found.

Others who vanished during the Troubles include Gerry Evans, Charles Armstrong and Robert Nairac - all believed to have been murdered by the IRA - and Seamus Ruddy, who disappeared in France and whose murder was admitted by the INLA.