Republican News · Thursday 9 May 2002

IRA denies any link to Armstrong killing

In a statement received by An Phoblacht on Wednesday, 8 May, the leadership of the Irish Republican Army denied any involvement in the disappearance of Crossmagen man Charles Armstrong, who vanished in August 1981. Gardaí have been digging in the hope of recovering his remains at a site in north Monaghan since last week, reportedly acting on information received by the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains. The following is the full text of the IRA statement:

"In recent days sections of the media have asserted that Oglaigh na hÉireann was responsible for the disappearance of Charles Armstrong.

This is untrue. The IRA wish to state that we were not involved in the disappearance of Mr Armstrong.

We sympathise with the family of Charles Armstrong in respect of the pain and distress that they are suffering but we wish to reassure them that we were not involved in his disappearance."

P O'Neill,
Irish Republican Publicity Bureau
Dublin