'Disappeared' relatives lay wreath
RELATIVES of the "Disappeared" were joined for the first time by the family of west Belfast man who vanished in 1973 for a wreath-laying ceremony at Stormont.
MLAs from all the main parties joined the families as they placed the wreath on the steps of Parliament Buildings on Monday.
Peter Wilson's name was only recently reported to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains.
The organisation has al-ready investigated 13 cases of people murdered and buried in unmarked graves, mainly by the IRA.
The missing man's sister, Anne Connolly, joined other bereaved relatives to appeal for help to end their heartache.
"We, the family of Peter Wilson, hope and pray that through the work of the Disappeared Commission the remains of our dear brother will be returned to us for burial," she said.
"This is all we want."
She added: "We would appeal to anyone who knows anything that can help find our brother's remains to talk to the commission."
The IRA has admitted involvement in nine of the killings, but in recent days a senior republican source claimed it was not involved in Mr Wilson's disappearance.
South Antrim MLA William McCrea welcomed the families to Stormont and once again called for anyone with information about the location of victims' remains to come forward and share it with the police or the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains.
Mr McCrea said: "It was a solemn and reflective few minutes when I walked with the families of those whose remains have never been recovered for the laying of a sole wreath on Stormont's steps.
"Whilst we colloquially might refer to these victims merely as 'the Disappeared', the reality is that the families of those affected in this way are condemned to a life sentence of their own.
"The pain and anguish of never being able to give their murdered relatives a proper burial is never-ending.
"We desire to move Northern Ireland forward, but we must never forget those who have suffered and we must do all we can to assist the family members of the people who were murdered and buried in secret locations."
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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