Body found in hunt for missing 'troubles,' victim Peter Wilson

Sky News

Investigators searching for missing Troubles victim Peter Wilson in Northern Ireland, have found a body in County Antrim.

The discovery was made in the seaside village of Waterfoot, where archeologists are carrying out a search based on anonymous information received from within the republican movement.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains confirmed the find, although the body has not yet been identified.

A spokesman for the commission said: "The ICLVR in its search for the body of Peter Wilson has found human remains at a site in Waterfoot in County Antrim.

"The recovery is ongoing and the formal identification process will take some time."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams urged anyone else with information on missing people to come forward and said: "My thoughts are with the Wilson family at this time and I would hope that confirmation would be speedy to ease the burden of the final wait the family will endure."

Peter Wilson was 21 years old when he disappeared in 1973, and his family believe he was murdered by republican paramilitaries.

The unemployed Catholic man, who had learning disabilities, left his home in the Beechmount area of west Belfast in August of that year and was never seen again.

The commission was set up by British and Irish governments to find people disappeared during the Troubles and has so far found eight bodies at rural sites in the Republic of Ireland.

Eight more people are actively being searched for.

The discovery comes on the day Patricia Gearon, Mr Wilson's sister, carried a wreath on a silent walk at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont, for the disappeared.

She was joined by other victims' families, including Kathleen Armstrong, whose husband Charlie's body was found in July and Mary Evans, who is awaiting DNA confirmation that remains found in October are that of her son Gerry.

Anne Morgan, whose brother Seamus Ruddy is thought to be buried in France, said the silent walk was significant for the families.

"We carry the symbolic black wreath with the white lilies which represents those who are still missing," she said.

"Our walk at Stormont each year is a reminder that our plight is ongoing and that every effort needs to be made to bring our loved ones home for Christian burial."

More to follow...