The search for “disappeared” man Columba McVeigh has ended without success.

Columba McVeigh was just 19 when he was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1975.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains has confirmed that the most recent search on Bragan Bog in County Monaghan has now concluded without locating his remains and that the McVeigh family has been informed.

The 50th anniversary of his disappearance was just over a month ago, and Lead Investigator with the ICLVR Eamonn Henry described this development as “devastating news for the McVeigh Family”.

“Everyone involved in the search, including the ICLVR investigators, the forensic archaeologists, and the contractors who operate the machinery are bitterly disappointed and share the frustration of the McVeigh family that yet another search of the bog has ended in this way,” he said.

Mr Henry said that 26 acres of Bragan Bog had been searched.

“While we continue to believe that the information we are working on has been given in good faith, clearly there is still something missing,” he said.

Mr Henry said he assures the McVeigh family and other families of the Disappeared that the ICLVR remains fully committed to finding Columba.

“We will not rest until his remains are returned and he receives the Christian burial that he has been denied for far too long,” he said.

He renewed the appeal for anyone with information about any of the four remaining Disappeared cases, Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire, to contact the investigation team.

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State has said he was deeply saddened that the remains of Columba McVeigh have not been located.

Hilary Benn MP said that he visited the site last month.

“I want to acknowledge the diligence and determination of the Commission to locate Columba since the first search at Bragan Bog was conducted in 1999, as well as the investigators, forensic archaeologists and the search teams for their painstaking and sensitive work,” Mr Benn said.

The Secretary of State said his thoughts are with the McVeigh family, who he said have “endured the unimaginable burden for so many years”.

He said the UK Government remains committed to the work of the ICLVR and appealed for people with information to come forward.