DNA tests confirmed that human remains discovered in Ireland's Wicklow Mountains were those of Danny McIlhone. McIlhone was kidnapped in 1981 and the Irish Republican Army admitted in 1999 that they had killed him. The remains were discovered in November of 2008 and confirmed as McIhone's the following month.Belfast Telegraph: Wicklow remains confirmed as those of Belfast teen (December 19, 2008) News Letter: Remains of IRA victim confirmed (December 19, 2008)
The "Disappeared"
For nearly two decades, the IRA denied responsibility for McIlhone's death and that of several other Catholic civilians who went missing in the early 1980s, who became known collectively as the "Disappeared." In 1999, the IRA admitted that it had killed and buried nine of the Disappeared and provided officials with approximate locations of the grave sites. McIlhone's was the fifth Disappeared body to be recovered.BBC News: Who were the 'Disappeared'? (December 19, 2008) The Seattle Times: Irish find remains of IRA victim missing since '81 (December 19, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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McIlhone went missing in 1981 at the age of 18
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Remains were discovered in November 2008 and confirmed as McIlhone's on December 18, 2008News Letter: Remains of IRA victim confirmed (December 19, 2008)
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Allegedly killed during a struggle with one of his captorsBBC News: Family of IRA victim 'at peace' (December 19, 2008)
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Remains were identified by comparing an unearthed foot to DNA samples taken from McIlhone's family membersIrish Times: Body part to be compared with DNA from family of IRA victim (November 13, 2008)
