Background
3.A number of people, referred to colloquially as “The Disappeared”, have gone missing in Northern Ireland over the last 25 years. It is believed that they were abducted and killed by proscribed organisations but to date their remains have not been located. Dr Majorie Mowlam, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced on 29th March 1999 the Government’s intention to consider amending the law to ensure that any evidence which emerges in locating the remains of the victims of such violence would not be used in criminal proceedings. The Act is designed to facilitate the provision of information about the whereabouts of the remains to an international Commission, established by Treaty between the British and Irish Governments.
