Investigators searching for The Disappeared have received new information on the back of the Disney+ series Say Nothing.
Jon Hill told The Irish Times a “handful” of people who had seen the drama had come forward.
He said it is too early to determine the value of the information.
The nine-part series, based on the book of the same name by Patrick Radden Keefe, aired in late 2024.
Cases featured in the drama include the disappearances of Jean McConville and Joe Lynskey.
They were among 17 people abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. Four of the victims are still missing.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains is leading the search for their remains.
Mr Hill (72), a former senior Met detective, is lead investigator with the commission, which was established by the UK and Irish governments in 1999.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Irish Times, he said the commission had been contacted by “a handful” of people affected by Say Nothing.
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“Information has come forward from some people who have suggested it’s as a result of that drama. Whether that information is any use yet, I don’t know because it’s too early to say,” he said.
“These people have decided to speak to us because of the impact it has had on them. It might be someone has seen something that they thought was relevant to us. So, yes, it’s promoted that interest.”
Mr Hill has watched the nine-part series, saying it is “quite powerful” – but he also takes issue with its accuracy.
“I don’t see how anyone can’t be affected by watching it,” he said.
“I have to say, as I watched it, I don’t think some of it is accurate. I can’t really go into detail around that because then that’s saying what I do know. We’re really limited on what we can say, and quite rightly.”
So far, the remains of 13 people have been recovered.
The remaining four are Mr Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Seamus Maguire and Robert Nairac.
Mr Lynskey was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1972.
Last November, remains were exhumed from a cemetery in Co Monaghan by investigators searching for his body.
It came after the ICLVR was contacted about suspicious activity during the 1970s at a grave in Annyalla cemetery near Castleblaney.
Mr Hill dismissed any suggestion the development was connected to Say Nothing, which aired around the same time.
He said the process was under way “months” before the drama’s release in November.
Mr Hill also said the process to formally identify the remains is ongoing.
“We believed when we started out that we were looking for the remains of Joe Lynskey; we still hope that we are but until we get a DNA result we can’t conclude that,” he said.
Separately, in December, the Belfast Telegraph reported that a republican had disclosed the names of three people he says were involved in the IRA disappearance of Mr McVeigh, who went missing in 1975.
The republican said he was coming forward after appeals made over the Disappeared in the wake of Say Nothing.
A number of searches for Mr McVeigh at Bragan Bog, Co Monaghan, have failed to find his remains.
The ICLVR can be contacted in strict confidence on +353 1 602 8655 or via e-mail at [email protected]
Its confidential postal address is ICLVR, PO BOX 10827, Dublin 2, Ireland