The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains has confirmed that the remains found in a Co Meath bog in belong to two of 'The Disappeared' - Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright.
The IRA abducted and killed both men in 1972.
A team of investigators began a search for the two in March of this year, and when they found remains in the Co Meath bog in June announced that it was "more than likely" they were those of Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright.
Ken Bloomfield and Frank Murray, Commissioners of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), have issued the following statement:
"The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) has received the results of the DNA examination carried out on samples of the human remains recovered by the ICLVR team at Coghalstown, Co Meath, on 25 June 2015. The results positively indicate that the remains are those of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee".
"Dr. Brian Farrell, Coroner for the City of Dublin, has accepted this as evidence of identification and will shortly authorise the release of the remains to the families. The thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with the Wright and McKee families at this difficult time".
Both men were from Belfast. Mr Wright (25) worked as an asphalt layer and was married. He went missing in October 1972.
In October of 1972, Mr McKee also disappeared from Belfast.
Kevin's sister - Phil - is thankful for the information that led to their discovery.
The 'Disappeared' were 16 people the IRA kidnapped, murdered and secretly buried. To date 12 of those bodies have been recovered.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the confirmation “will bring an end to the uncertainty for the McKee and Wright families".
Mr Adams said he wanted to thank “everyone who has helped in the search for the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA. Republicans have cooperated fully with the Commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families".
Mr Adams appealed for "anyone with any information on those remains still not found to bring that information forward to the families, to the commission or myself”.
