Death certificates could be issued for the relatives of people who went missing during the Troubles, it was confirmed today.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain said the issuing of the certificates could help ease the pain of families whose loved ones were abducted, killed and secretly buried by the Provisional IRA.
He confirmed the British government intended to introduce legislation allowing the certificates to be issued in cases where it had not been possible to locate the remains of a victim.
"In August 2006 the British and Irish governments announced fresh efforts to locate and recover the remains of the disappeared," Mr Hain said.
"The work carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains is ongoing.
"However for the families of those whose remains cannot be located, the fact remains that without a body being found it is not possible, under the law as it stands, for the death to be registered and a certificate issued.
"The families have expressed the view to Northern Ireland Office ministers that having a death certificate would bring great comfort to them."
A total of four bodies of people abducted by the IRA and secretly buried have been recovered so far. However the bodies of five other people who the Provisional IRA has admitted to abducting and killing have not been found in the Republic.
They are:
- Columba McVeigh, 17, from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, who was abducted in 1975 and accused of being an informer. His body is believed to be buried near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.
- Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright, both 25, who disappeared from the Andersonstown area of West Belfast in October 1972 and who the IRA claimed were buried at Coghallstown, near Navan in Co Meath.
- Danny McIlhone, from West Belfast, who went missing in July 1981 and whose body is believed to be concealed at Ballynultagh in Co Wicklow.
- Brendan Megraw (24) from Twinbrook on the outskirts of West Belfast, who was abducted in April 1978 and is believed to be buried at Oristown near Kells in Co Meath.
The IRA has not claimed the disappearances of Co Armagh men Charles Armstrong (57) from Crossmaglen, who vanished in August 1981, and Gerard Evans (24) who was last seen alive in Castleblayney in Co Monaghan in March 1979.
Captain Robert Nairac (29) an undercover soldier, also disappeared in South Armagh in May 1977.
The Commission for the Recovery of Victims' Remains has also been looking at the case of Seamus Ruddy, a 33-year-old member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, who is believed to have been abducted in France in May 1985, murdered and buried by members of the Irish National Liberation Army to which his party was allied.
PA