AN annual silent walk was held yesterday for the 16 people murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
Families of the Disappeared took part in the walk on All Souls day at Stormont for a 12th consecutive year.
The remains of three of the disappeared have still not been found.
Searches are continuing for Columba McVeigh (19) from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone.
Former Cistercian monk Joe Lynskey, from west Belfast, who later joined the Provisional IRA and British soldier Robert Nairac also remain missing.
The Disappeared's families walked from the statue of Edward Carson to the steps of Parliament Buildings where they laid a black wreath with three white lilies to represent those who have yet to be found.
Fr Paul Turley, from Clonard Monastery in west Belfast, led prayers.
Sandra Peake, chief executive of the Wave Trauma Centre, said three families are still waiting to bury their loved ones.
"As each year passes and the immediate family of those still missing grow older it becomes more difficult for them to take the unimaginable pain of knowing that their loved ones lies in some barren and desolate place when they should be resting in consecrated ground," she said.
"They draw huge comfort from knowing that they have the continuing support of those families who have had loved ones returned to them for Christian burial and they know that the thoughts and prayers of those who cannot come to Stormont today are with them always."
Searches for Columba McVeigh continued in Bragan bog in Co Monaghan yesterday.
Mr McVeigh was abducted, shot and secretly buried in November 1975.
Following the ceremony at Stormont, members of the McVeigh family travelled to the site of the dig.
Anyone with information about any of the three outstanding cases should contact the ICLVR's confidential telephone number on 00800-55585500, email secretaryiclvr.ie or write to ICLVR, PO Box, 10827, Dublin 2.
