REMEMBERING THE DISAPPEARED

Early day motion 180, tabled 9 December 1999 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 1 member.

That this House is hopeful that the current peace deal in Northern Ireland will create the conditions for new and non-sectarian politics which relies entirely on democratic persuasion rather than violence; believes, however, that the pain and bitterness of the victims of the Troubles will be greatly exacerbated if public opinion fails to continue to give solidarity to the victims; strongly endorses, therefore, the editorial appeal of the Irish News to remember the disappeared such as Jean McConville who were abducted and murdered by the Provisional IRA and whose bodies were concealed, thus preventing their families from being able to bury and mourn their lost ones with the appropriate dignity; deeply regrets that so far only two bodies of the disappeared have been discovered; and further endorses the view of the Irish News that Republicans were responsible for killing Jean McConville and the others, and with just three weeks to go until the new millennium, they have a clear duty to bring closure to this ignominious chapter and finally tell the families where the disappeared can be found.

Signatures by party: Labour 1.