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4 December 2010
Last updated at 04:06 ET
The family of one of the "Disappeared", Gerry Evans, are preparing for his funeral in Crossmaglen.
Mr Evans' remains were found seven weeks ago in County Louth, 31 years after he went missing.
He was 24 years old when he was last seen, hitch-hiking in Castleblayney, County Monaghan. It's thought he was kidnapped and murdered by the IRA.
His funeral will take place at 1100GMT on Saturday at St Patrick's Church.
Gerry Evans' brother, Noel, paid tribute to his mother for her strength over her 31-year wait.
"My mother has finally got her son back. Saturday will be a bitter sweet day but it is great to have him home," he said.
Mr Evans remains were discovered shortly after the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains announced they were winding down the search at Carrickrobin after 16 months of painstaking excavation.
They had unearthed an area the size of four football fields but had found nothing. The family were devastated. At that stage, Noel Evans said they were losing hope that he would ever be found.
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Mr Evans said the support from the local community had been "unbelievable".
"Years ago, people were afraid. People, in their hearts, were aggrieved but they probably wanted to say it, but couldn't.
"We went to thank people for finally coming forward and giving us the information. After 31 years, the information came through. The pain is still the same whether it happened 31 years ago or seven weeks ago."
Sixteen people were murdered by republican paramilitaries and secretly buried in isolated areas of Ireland during the Troubles.
Nine bodies have yet to be found.
In 1999, the IRA admitted responsibility for killing and secretly burying nine of the 16, while one was admitted by the INLA.
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Mr Evans' remains were found seven weeks ago in County Louth, 31 years after he went missing.
He was 24 years old when he was last seen, hitch-hiking in Castleblayney, County Monaghan. It's thought he was kidnapped and murdered by the IRA.
His funeral will take place at 1100GMT on Saturday at St Patrick's Church.
Gerry Evans' brother, Noel, paid tribute to his mother for her strength over her 31-year wait.
"My mother has finally got her son back. Saturday will be a bitter sweet day but it is great to have him home," he said.
Mr Evans remains were discovered shortly after the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains announced they were winding down the search at Carrickrobin after 16 months of painstaking excavation.
They had unearthed an area the size of four football fields but had found nothing. The family were devastated. At that stage, Noel Evans said they were losing hope that he would ever be found.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
After 31 years, the information came through. The pain is still the same whether it happened 31 years ago or seven weeks ago”
End Quote
Noel Evans
Mr Evans said the support from the local community had been "unbelievable".
"Years ago, people were afraid. People, in their hearts, were aggrieved but they probably wanted to say it, but couldn't.
"We went to thank people for finally coming forward and giving us the information. After 31 years, the information came through. The pain is still the same whether it happened 31 years ago or seven weeks ago."
Sixteen people were murdered by republican paramilitaries and secretly buried in isolated areas of Ireland during the Troubles.
Nine bodies have yet to be found.
In 1999, the IRA admitted responsibility for killing and secretly burying nine of the 16, while one was admitted by the INLA.
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