Murder of Gareth O'Connor

Gareth O'Connor (c. 1979 – 11 May 2003) was a member of the Real IRA who was murdered in 2003.

Disappearance
O'Connor disappeared after driving through Newtownhamilton in 2003. On 11 June 2005, his badly decomposed body was discovered in his car in Newry Canal, County Down. His father, Mark, believes that the Provisional IRA were responsible for the murder, as they had threatened father and son. Mark O'Connor said: "I gave those names [of the killers] to Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin assembly member). But nothing has been done. Gerry Adams ignores us and ignores all the families of the Disappeared."

Investigation and aftermath
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "The IRA have made it clear that they were not involved in the disappearance of Gareth O'Connor. We accept totally this statement. It is our belief that the family should look towards either the republican micro organisation Gareth O'Connor was suspected to be involved with or the Special Branch he was alleged to be working for to further their search for justice. Gerry Adams is deeply committed to this issue and to seeing this injustice ended."

In May 2003, Monsignor Denis Faul stated that he believed an armed group was involved in O'Connor's disappearance: "What I'm really afraid of is that he will join the 'disappeared'. I've spoken to his family about this, that they might never see him again. If he is dead, and we hope he is not, they might not be able to bury him. I have been dealing with people who have been missing their dear ones for 28 years." O'Connor disappeared en route to Dundalk Garda station, where he regularly reported as part of bail conditions imposed after he was charged in the Republic of Ireland with membership of the Real IRA.

See also
Forced disappearance
Disappeared (Northern Ireland)
Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
Thomas Murphy (Irish republican)
Peter Wilson (Disappeared)
Gerard Evans
Columba McVeigh
Murder of Jean McConville
Disappearance of Peter Wilson
Robert Nairac
Internal Security Unit
List of solved missing persons cases

References

External links
Nuzhound.com
Cain.ulst.ac.uk
Newrytimes.com
News.bbc.co.uk
Breakingnews.ie

Category:1970s births
Category:2000s missing person cases
Category:2003 deaths
Category:Deaths by firearm in Northern Ireland
Category:Forced disappearances in Northern Ireland
Category:Kidnapped people from Northern Ireland
Category:Missing person cases in Ireland
Category:Murder victims from Northern Ireland
Category:People from County Armagh
Category:People killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Category:People murdered in Northern Ireland
Category:Terrorism deaths in Northern Ireland
Category:2003 murders in the United Kingdom
Category:May 2003 events in the United Kingdom