The Five Demands

Ci sono nuove e sembra attendibili speranze, di ritrovare i resti di Charlie Armstrong, una delle 14 persone scomparse (‘disappeared’) per mano dell’IRA all’epoca dei Troubles.
Stando alle informazioni rivelate dall’Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, fonti anonime hanno fornito una mappa che indicherebbe il luogo di sepoltura di Armstrong, scomparso 28 anni fa.
La mappa indica una zona mai esplorata fino ad ora sul confine irlandese.
Dopo essersi consulatata con i familiari, la Commissione ha invitato la fonte a ricontattare nuovamente la famiglia, direttamente o indirettamente.
Questa è la terza mappa pervenuta per il caso Armostrong, ma viene ritenuta la più attendibile perchè il luogo di sepoltura indicato corrisponderebbe ad un’area su cui vi sono da sempre sospetti che i resti della vittima vi si possano trovare.
L’area interessata è quelle di Colgah, nella contea di Monaghan.
Un portavoce della Commissione ha dichiarato: “E ‘importante poter parlare con la persona che ha inviato la mappa. Crediamo di poter essere vicini al ritrovamento di Charlie Armstrong e un colloquio con la persona che ha fornito questa mappa potrebbe essere di vitale importanza, l’ultimo tassello di cui abbiamo bisogno. ”
Anna McShane, figlia di Armstrong, parlando per sua madre ha affermato: “E’ difficile tenere sotto controllo le emozioni… Da un lato questo potrebbe essere il passo per cui abbiamo pregato per anni e, dall’altro, potrebbe spezzarci un’altra volta il cuore “.
L’Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains ha attivato il numero 00800 55585500, messo a disposizione di chiunque possa e intenda fornire informazioni utili per ritrovare i corpi dei restanti ‘disappeared’.
Fino ad ora sono stati recuperati i resti di 5 vittime.

Map gives family new hope that IRA victim’s remains will be found (The Guardian)
Commission for Northern Ireland’s ‘disappeared’ appeals for anonymous source to come forward
The family of one of Northern Ireland’s “disappeared” has received fresh hope that his remains will be found 28 years after the IRA kidnapped, killed and buried him in a secret grave.
The cross-border Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains said today it had received “potentially significant” new information on the whereabouts of Charlie Armstrong, who was from Crossmaglen, South Armagh. A map given anonymously indicates a previously unsearched area on the Irish border where the new source says Armstrong is buried.
After consulting with the Armstrong family, the commission said it was appealing to the person who sent the map to make contact again in confidence, either directly or indirectly.
This is the third map that has been received on this case and investigators are taking the new information seriously. It confirms their views on the general area in which Armstrong, missing since August 1981, is buried.
A commission spokesperson said: “We have always believed that he is buried in a bogland area in Colgah, County Monaghan, but unfortunately, searches including one undertaken by the commission last summer have been unsuccessful.
“It is crucially important that we speak to the person who has sent the map. We believe we could be close to finding Charlie Armstrong’s remains and a conversation with the person who sent this map could provide that vital, final piece of information we need.”
Armstrong’s daughter, Anna McShane, speaking for her mother, Kathleen, said: “It’s difficult to keep your feelings in check because being one of the families of the disappeared is like being on an emotional rollercoaster. On the one hand this could be the breakthrough we’ve been praying for over the years and on the other, it could lead to further heartbreak.”
The commission was created to locate 14 people who disappeared during the troubles in Northern Ireland and has a confidential phone number, 00800 55585500. Five bodies have been recovered.