Human remains have been exhumed from a grave in County Monaghan, by investigators searching for one of the so-called 'disappeared'.

Investigators looking for the remains of Joe Lynskey, who went missing in 1972 during the troubles, made the discovery in Monaghan.

The remains recovered have taken for analysis to confirm their identity.

It is thought the remains may have been secretly buried in another person's grave, at Annyalla Cemetary, near the towns of Castleblayney and Clontibret.

The 'disappeared'

The ‘disappeared’ are people who are believed to have been abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the troubles.

Victims were abducted in Northern Ireland but murdered and buried across the border in the Republic, in most cases.

Of the 16 people listed as ‘disappeared’ during the troubles, the remains of 13 have been located and returned to their families for burial.

Joe Lynskey, Seamus McGuire and Captain Robert Nairac (a British Army officer) are the three cases still unresolved as of yet.

IRA feud

Mr Lynskey (40) was a former Cistercian monk who later joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

He was abducted and murdered during an internal IRA feud in 1972.

In 2010 the IRA admitted he had been "executed and buried".

ICLVR

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) confirmed to Sky News that the exhumation had taken place on Tuesday.

"The Commission received information concerning suspicious historic activity during the 1970s at a grave in Annyalla Cemetery,” an ICLVR spokesperson said.

"Both the time frame and the location coincide with the disappearance of Joe Lynskey in 1972.

"The ICLVR did not become aware that Joe Lynskey was one of the disappeared before 2010.

"Following an exhumation, there will be a formal process to establish the identify of all of the remains found in the grave.

"This process may take some time.”

A wreath and photographs of the three “disappeared” men - Columba McVeigh (left) Joe Lynskey (centre) and Robert Nairac, on the steps of Stormont, 02-11-2017. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Archive/PA Images