The Disappeared Timeline
Despite extensive and painstaking searches, four of the 17 people listed by the commission set up to locate victims’ remain have yet to be found.
The following timeline highlights major events related to these cases over the past five decades and is organised by the date of each person’s disappearance.
Found
Still Missing
Kevin disappeared on 2ⁿᵈ October 1972. His body was recovered 25ᵗʰ June 2015 along with the body of Seamus Wright at Coghalstown, Co. Meath during a search there for Joseph Lynskey.
Jean disappeared on 7ᵗʰ of December 1972. Her body was recovered on 27ᵗʰ August 2003 at Shillington Beach, Co. Louth.
Seamus disappeared on 2ⁿᵈ October 1972 along with Kevin McKee. His body was recovered on 25ᵗʰ June 2025 along with the body of Kevin McKee at Coghalstown, Co. Meath during a search there for Joseph Lynskey.
Joseph Lynskey was a former Cistercian monk from the Beechmount area of west Belfast. He went missing during the summer of 1972. Searches for his remains in 2018 and 2024 ended without success. His remains have yet to be located.
Peter Wilson (21 yrs), was last seen in Falls Park in August 1973. Peter did not return to his home at St James’s Road, Belfast. His disappearance was confirmed in October 2009 and his remains were found on Waterfoot Beach, Co. Antrim on 2ⁿᵈ November 2010.
Seamus Maguire, from Aghagallon, near Lurgan was aged 29 when he was killed and secretly buried in the Aghagallon/Derryclone area in 1976. While it was initially thought that he disappeared sometime around 1973-1974 it has now been established that after spending time in Manchester he returned to Northern Ireland and was then killed and secretly buried. In February 2022 the Commission announced that it was adding Seamus Maguire to the list of the Disappeared. His remains have yet to be located.
Eamon disappeared on 1ˢᵗ July 1975. His body was located on 28ᵗʰ of May 1999 at Old Faughart Cemetery, four miles outside Dundalk.
Columba McVeigh from Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone was 19 years old when he was abducted and murdered in October 1975. Although extensive searches, based on information received, have been carried out at Bragan bog in Co. Monaghan his remains have yet to be recovered.
Robert Nairac was an officer with the Grenadier Guards on a tour of duty in Northern Ireland when he was abducted in Co. Armagh in May 1977 and murdered. He was 29 years old. A search for his remains in 2024 ended without success. His remains have yet to be recovered. A number of people have been convicted of offences associated with his murder and abduction.
John disappeared on 25ᵗʰ of May 1978. His body was located on 29ᵗʰ June 1999 at Colgagh, Iniskeen, Co. Monaghan along with Brian McKinney’s body.
Brian disappeared on 25ᵗʰ May 1978. His body was located on 29ᵗʰ June 1999 at Colgagh, Iniskeen, Co. Monaghan along with John McClory’s body. John McClory had been kidnapped an hour earlier.
Brendan disappeared from his home in Twinbrook, Belfast on 8ᵗʰ April 1978. His body was recovered on Oristown Bog, near Kells, Co Meath, on 1ˢᵗ October 2014.
Gerard Anthony (Gerry) disappeared on his way home to Crossmaglen. He was last seen on the roadside out of Castleblaney trying to hitch a lift back home. His body was found in bogland near Carrickrobin, Co. Louth on 15ᵗʰ October 2010.
Danny disappeared on 1ˢᵗ July 1981. His body was discovered in November 2008 in bogland near the Blessington Lakes in Co. Wicklow.
Charlie disappeared on 15ᵗʰ August 1981. His body was found in bogland at Aughrim More, near Culloville, Co. Monaghan on 29ᵗʰ July 2010.
Eugene disappeared on 1st January 1981. His body was recovered by accident three years later on the 24ᵗʰ May 1984 in a bog at Knockbridge, Dundalk.
Seamus disappeared in Paris on 9th May 1985. His body was recovered on May 6ᵗʰ, 2017.