A leading investigator says it is 'distinctly possible' that the remains of two men found in searches for the Disappeared yesterday are those of Belfast men Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee.

They were found by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) during searches for the remains of Joe Lynskey, who was murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972.

A second body was discovered as further examinations took place at the site and preparations were made to take the first body out of the ground.

The recovery of remains is expected to be completed at Coghalstown today, with post mortems and DNA sampling due to take place in Dublin.

IRA victims Wright and McKee are believed to be buried in the same area, the ICLVR said.

"We have always said that we think three bodies are in that area and until there is further identification we just don't know," a spokesman said.

It is understood the second set of human remains was unearthed as specialists cleared ground around the first body to prepare it for removal.

State Pathologist Marie Cassidy was at the site for a number of hours.

'Hugely traumatic for families'

Mr Lynskey's family, who have suffered a 43-year wait to give him a proper burial, were notified of the initial discovery and were said to be shocked but relieved at the discovery.

The former Cistercian monk was abducted and murdered by the IRA in August 1972, but the terror group only admitted his disappearance in 2010.

Mr Wright, another of the disappeared believed to be dumped in the bogland, was also from Belfast.

He was in the IRA and was killed in the same year by his former colleagues, who accused him of being a British Army agent and a member of the Military Reaction Force.

Sinn Fein Gerry Adams said he welcomed the discoveries.

"The uncertainty over who has been recovered must be hugely traumatic for the families involved," he said.

"I am sure that the Commission will move as speedily as it can to verify the identity of those who have been found."

"I thank everyone who has helped in the search of the remains of those who were killed and secretly buried by the IRA. Republicans have co-operated fully with the Commission and we now need to continue to do our utmost to bring closure for the remaining families."

"Today's discovery is an important step toward the recovery of all of those killed and secretly buried."

"I want to appeal again for anyone with any information on those remains still not found to bring that information forward to the families, to the Commission or myself."

"Any information passed to the Commission cannot be used in a court of law or transmitted to any other agency and those passing on this information have absolute immunity in relation to this information."

Geoff Knupfer is the Head of the investigation team.

He says it will take some weeks to establish whether the remains are those of former IRA victims Wright and McKee.