Charles Armstrong (missing person)
Encyclopedia
Charles Armstrong was a 55 year old labourer from Crossmaglen
who disappeared on 16 August 1981. It is suspected that he was abducted and murdered by the Provisional IRA
, a victim of enforced disappearance. Armstrong and his wife Kathleen had five children. Armstrong's body was retrieved in 2010 and later buried in the proper manner. His funeral took place on 18 September 2010.
, where they had planned to meet him after he drove a friend to it. He did not appear and it was only when they got home that they discovered that he had not met their friend.
Initially it was thought he had had an accident, so his family and friends walked the area, looking for him, but there was no sign of him.
The next day, a friend phoned the family to tell them his car had been found outside the Adelphi cinema in Dundalk
.
His name did not appear on a list of nine people whose disappearances the IRA admitted responsibility for in 1999 and Gerry Adams
denied that the IRA were responsible in a statement. Suzanne Breen
was contacted by a member of the IRA who contradicted that claim.
In July 2010 a group searching for Charles Armstrong announced that they had found human remains in County Monaghan
. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
said that it had found the remains early on the afternoon of 29 July 2010 in the townland
of Aughrim More, on the County Monaghan side of Cullaville
. The spokesman, Ken Mack, also said that it was too early to confirm if the remains were those of Charles Armstrong.
This search was carried out after the commission had received anonymously a map indicating an area which had not been searched before for the remains of Charles Armstrong. Gerry Adams said that if the remains were those of Charles Adams, it would be a great relief to the missing man's family. He also said that he had no evidence that the IRA were involved in the disappearance.
In September 2010, the Independent Commission confirmed that the remains found were those of Charles Armstrong.
Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen or Crosmaglen is a village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,459 people in the 2001 Census and is the largest village in south Armagh...
who disappeared on 16 August 1981. It is suspected that he was abducted and murdered by the Provisional IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
, a victim of enforced disappearance. Armstrong and his wife Kathleen had five children. Armstrong's body was retrieved in 2010 and later buried in the proper manner. His funeral took place on 18 September 2010.
Disappearance
On the day he disappeared his wife walked with their daughters to MassMass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, where they had planned to meet him after he drove a friend to it. He did not appear and it was only when they got home that they discovered that he had not met their friend.
Initially it was thought he had had an accident, so his family and friends walked the area, looking for him, but there was no sign of him.
The next day, a friend phoned the family to tell them his car had been found outside the Adelphi cinema in Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
.
His name did not appear on a list of nine people whose disappearances the IRA admitted responsibility for in 1999 and Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
denied that the IRA were responsible in a statement. Suzanne Breen
Suzanne Breen
Suzanne Breen is the Northern Ireland editor for the Sunday Tribune newspaper. She has also written for Village magazine about Northern Ireland....
was contacted by a member of the IRA who contradicted that claim.
Searches
In 2001 a search for his remains produced no results.In July 2010 a group searching for Charles Armstrong announced that they had found human remains in County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains was established by treaty between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Ireland, made on 27 April 1999 in connection with the affairs of Northern Ireland....
said that it had found the remains early on the afternoon of 29 July 2010 in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Aughrim More, on the County Monaghan side of Cullaville
Cullaville
Cullaville or Culloville is a small village and townland near Crossmaglen in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is the southernmost settlement in the county and one of the southernmost in Northern Ireland, straddling the Irish border. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 400 people...
. The spokesman, Ken Mack, also said that it was too early to confirm if the remains were those of Charles Armstrong.
This search was carried out after the commission had received anonymously a map indicating an area which had not been searched before for the remains of Charles Armstrong. Gerry Adams said that if the remains were those of Charles Adams, it would be a great relief to the missing man's family. He also said that he had no evidence that the IRA were involved in the disappearance.
In September 2010, the Independent Commission confirmed that the remains found were those of Charles Armstrong.
External links
- Charley Armstrong at thedisappearedni.co.uk
- "Looking for Charlie" at guardian.co.ukGuardian.co.ukguardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...