Man who led searches for bodies unhappy with film’s treatment of special commission

The RTÉ/BBC Northern Ireland film The Disappeared has great impact and is "very disturbing" but it ought to have contained greater reference to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, claims the man closely involved in the search for the Disappeared.

Geoff Knupfer, a forensic scientist and former member of Greater Manchester police, told The Irish Times: "We are desperately disappointed that the commission is not mentioned in any shape, size or form." There are just fleeting references to the commission in the documentary.

He added: “We co-operated with them [the film makers] from day one, but the commission is not mentioned at any time. We just feel that is just sending out all the wrong messages. We would dearly have liked some references to the work the commission does, the legal framework in which it operates and the security in terms of the information that is passed to us.”

He referred to the legal immunities available to those who supplied information to the commission. Mr Knupfer said he hoped the film would help the investigators and prompt sources to come forward.

“Our work is still ongoing, we are awaiting fresh information. We are an information driven organisation; if information comes in, we work on it.”

The commission can be contacted via telephone from anywhere in Ireland or Britain on 00800-555 85500. It is also online at ICLVR.ie