Brian McDermott was a 10-year-old schoolboy who disappeared in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1973. He was last seen at Ormeau Park on 2 September 1973.^[1] He failed to return to his home on Well Street in the lower Woodstock Road area of Cregagh, Belfast.^[1] A week after he went missing, the River Lagan was lowered and a sack containing some of his remains was found.^[1]

In 1982, a possible link between the death of Brian McDermott and the abuse scandal at Kincora Boys' Home was discussed by Jim Prior, Michael Havers, senior civil servant Sir William Bourne, and Quintin Hogg,^[2][3] who at the time was the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Lord Chancellor. Papers concerning this meeting were released in 2013.^[2][3]

Brian's brother, William, was 16 at the time of his disappearance. He was considered a suspect and questioned in 1976 and again in 2004.^[4] William denies the allegations and is estranged from the rest of his family.^[4] He admits confessing in 1976, but says that the confession was coerced.^[4] He changed his name by deed poll to avoid the stigma of being a suspect in his brother's murder.^[4] Brian's murder remains unsolved.^[5]

• List of solved missing person cases
• List of unsolved murders