§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) policing costs and (b) other costs have been incurred through action taken to locate victims' remains under the Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999; what progress has been made; and if she will make a statement. [91453]
339W
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: Following implementation of the Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999, the cost to the UK for the operation of the independent Commission amounts to £694.50 to date. Of this, £610.50 has been spent on transport and associated expenses for the UK Commissioner, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. The other £84 has been spent on setting up a Post Office Box. There have been no policing costs to the United Kingdom arising from the operation of the Act.
The remains of one individual, believed to be Eamon Molloy, were recovered in Dundalk on the first day of the Commission's operation, Friday 28 May. On June 29, human remains were found by Gardai at Colgagh in County Monaghan. This was the site which had been indicated as the location of the remains of Brian McKinney and John McClory. The State Pathologist was called to the scene and the Commission later confirmed that the remains of two individuals had been located. Work is ongoing to confirm the identities of the two individuals.
In light of this encouraging development, I understand that the Commission has asked the Garda Siochana to reassess the plans for the continuation of excavations at any site where available information indicates a prospect of making further discoveries and to report the conclusions to the Commission. The Commission has undertaken to communicate further information as events evolve.