THE IRA said last night that it has identified the location of the bodies of nine people killed by the organisation in the 1970s and 1980s and buried in secret.
They were named by IRA sources as Mr Brendan Megraw, Belfast; Mr Columba McVeigh, Co Tyrone; Mr Seamus Wright, Belfast; Mr Danny McIlhone, Belfast; Mr John McClory, Belfast; Ms Jean McConville, Belfast; Mr Kevin McKee, Belfast; Mr Eamonn Molloy, Belfast; and Mr Brian McKinney, Belfast.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, said last night that she would be willing to consider changing the law to ensure that any evidence uncovered with the remains would not be used in subsequent criminal proceedings.
In Dublin the Minister for Justice confirmed that the Government was "prepared to facilitate a process in relation to the locating of the remains through introducing legislation to the effect that evidence resulting from that process could not be used in the prosecution of offences."
Mrs Margaret McKinney from Belfast, whose son Brian was abducted on May 25th, 1978 and subsequently shot dead, said her feeling was "joy" on hearing his body would be returned to the family.
The statement issued by the IRA to the BBC said, in full: "IRA statement. "P. O'Neill. " Eighteen months ago we established a special unit under the command of one of our most senior officers to ascertain the whereabouts of a number of people executed and buried by Oglaigh na hEireann approximately 20 years ago.
"These burials took place prior to an Army Council directive that the body of anyone killed by Oglaigh na hEireann should be left for burial by their relatives. This issue has caused incalculable pain and distress to a number of families over a period of many years.
"Despite many complicating factors which have both hampered and protracted this investigation, including the lapse in time, changes in leadership, and the deaths of both members and former members of Oglaigh na hEireann who were involved, we can now conclude this inquiry.
"We believe we have established the whereabouts of the graves of nine people, some of whom were members of Oglaigh na hEireann who were executed for activities which put other Oglaigh na hEireann personnel at risk or jeopardised the struggle. Information regarding the location of these graves is now being processed and will hopefully result in the speedy retrieval of the bodies.
"As we have previously stated, we are not responsible for all those previously listed in the media as having gone missing over the last 30 years. We are responsible for those we have acknowledged today and their families have all been notified.
"In initiating this investigation, our intention has been to do all within our power to rectify any injustice, for which we accept full responsibility, and to alleviate the suffering of the families. We are sorry that this has taken so long to resolve and for the prolonged anguish caused to the families."