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The brother of a teenager murdered by the IRA spoke of the painstaking search for his remains as the first half of a search draws to a close.
The family of Columba McVeigh, one of 16 murder victims known as Disappeared, went to Co Monaghan where investigators and researchers suspended excavations because of bad weather.
The families of the other victims joined them after taking part in a silent march on Belfast's Day of Souls.
Police officer Tyrone, aged 19 from Donaghmore, was abducted, shot and secretly buried in November 1975.
Republicans aware of the crime told the Independent Commission for Locating Victims' Remains (ICLVR) that he had been buried on the other side of the border in the Bragan Bog near Emyvale.
Four previous searches in the peat bog have not revealed his remains.
His brother Oliver said that although he is not happy that the search was suspended, he "must be realistic" about the conditions of the search site.
The Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of all Ireland, Eamon Martin, met the family, including the brothers and sisters of Mr. McVeigh, Eugene and Dympna, at the site where he blessed the soil with Holy water.
Mr. McVeigh said, "It was very moving to have Archbishop Martin on site and to support us on the occasion of Columba's birthday and All Souls Day.
"The family really appreciates the fact that they did their best to come to the site.
"We have to be realistic about the conditions. We are not happy but we need to be realistic about the terrain and weather conditions.
"We want the search to be well done rather than half done."
Archbishop Martin said the Irish hoped the remains of Columba would be found after a new search started six weeks ago.
Speaking on the site, he said, "This hope remains and we continue to pray for God to guide the research team as it performs its hard work."
"You see it's an incredible task, it's the kind of work that nobody really wants to do.
"When people come to dig in the bog, they come to get gas to heat their homes and bring warmth to the living rooms and in their hearts, they do not come to do that kind of work.
"In many ways, we are shocked to be here in such a dark and lonely place and realize that this abominable task continues."
He hoped that today's visit would inspire someone with information to make themselves known.
Members of the ICLVR team and forensic archaeologists conducted searches in an area of about 100 meters by 50 meters.
Jon Hill, lead investigator of ICLVR, said the research was made difficult by unstable terrain.
He said: "We started the research six weeks ago and we are about halfway there and we are fast approaching this moment where we are going to stop for the winter and come back in the spring.
"There is no reason to think that we will succeed or fail until we have found what we are looking for and there is no reason to believe that the first or second part is more optimistic.
"We stop because it becomes more dangerous and less productive.
"It is more likely that you miss something when the weather is bad and the lighting is bad."
Hill said he was disappointed that he did not locate Columba's body.
He added: "It is also likely that you find them on the first day as the last day."
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