This is the young west Belfast man whose mystery disappearance in the 1970s is now being investigated as a potential IRA abduction and murder.

Some 36 years after Peter Wilson went missing from his home in St James Road at the age of 21, the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains has confirmed it is examining the circumstances of his disappearance. It has been reported that he may have been abducted and murdered by the IRA.

A commission spokesman said: “We can confirm that another case has been reported to us and we are making further inquiries as to where the remains may be located.”

It is understood Mr Wilson’s family are being kept up-to-date about the status of the investigation which is said to be in its early stages.

No searches of any possible burial sites are believed to have been carried out.

Mr Wilson was described as a vulnerable person with learning difficulties. For four days before he disappeared he lived with an Army unit, the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Green Jackets, at their headquarters near his Falls Road home.

At the time the Army was accused of using a vulnerable person to gather information on the IRA.

But the Army claimed that Mr Wilson had arrived at the barracks and asked to join the regiment so he had been allowed to remain with the battalion for a few days “to experience Army life at first hand before making any firm decision”.

The unexpected addition of Mr Wilson’s name to the list of the Disappeared brings to 15 the number of people abducted, murdered and buried in secret by republican terrorists.

The Provisional IRA has admitted carrying out 10 of the murders and the INLA has admitted one.

Three murders, and now Mr Wilson’s, have not been claimed but it is largely the view of the families that they were victims of the PIRA.