Northern Ireland

Inquest into death of Disappeared victim Seamus Ruddy returns 'unlawful killing' verdict

The remains of Seamus Ruddy were found in France last year
The remains of Seamus Ruddy were found in France last year The remains of Seamus Ruddy were found in France last year

A verdict of ‘unlawful killing by a person or persons unknown’ has been returned by the jury at the inquest into the death of a teacher murdered and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries more than 30 years ago.

The inquest at Dublin Coroner's Court was held a year after the remains of Seamus Ruddy, a "Disappeared" victim of the Troubles, were discovered in a French forest.

The 32-year-old from Newry, Co Down was found at Pont-de-l'Arche, near Rouen in northern France in May 2017.

Mr Ruddy was abducted in Paris in 1985 by the republican paramilitary group the INLA.

He was murdered and then secretly buried.

Mr Ruddy was a former member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) - the political wing of the INLA.

It is believed he was murdered amid a dispute with INLA members about an arms dump.

A statement was issued on behalf of the Ruddy family following the inquest verdict.

It said: “We want to thank the Dublin coroner for the sensitive way the inquest has been carried out.

"What has brought us here was the murder of our brother.

"Seamus was taken from Paris 33 years ago to the day.

"This year for the first time in 33 years we were able to attend Cemetery Sunday and pray at the grave where Seamus rests.

"As a family we would like to record our heartfelt appreciation for those who have stood with us over so many years."

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) recovered Mr Ruddy's remains.

The ICLVR was set up during the peace process by the British and Dublin governments to find the bodies of those secretly buried, mainly by the IRA, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Three of the 16 Disappeared victims are still to be recovered.

The remains of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac have yet to be found.