O’Neill writes to PM urging public inquiry into Sean Brown murder

By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging his Government to grant a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown.

Ms O’Neill said the family of the GAA official had “waited far too long for truth, justice and accountability”.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Co Londonderry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

Last week, three judges at the Court of Appeal in Belfast said the Government’s failure to order a public inquiry into the killing was unlawful.

Northern Ireland’s Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said the court would give Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn four weeks to “reflect upon the judgment” before another hearing.

The UK Government has said it will “carefully consider” the court judgment.

Ms O’Neill said: “Last week, outside court, Bridie Brown (Mr Brown’s widow) made a direct plea to the British government, and I want to echo her powerful and emotional words.

“The Brown family has waited far too long for truth, justice and accountability.

“They should not have to endure the indignity and insult of further delays or legal appeals.

“I have written to the British prime minister, imploring him and his government to accept the unequivocal court ruling and grant a public inquiry without any further delay.”

Ms O’Neill said anything less than a public inquiry would “further compound the grief and trauma of the Brown family”.

She added: “There can be no more cynical moves or obstructionist tactics by the British government.

“It’s time to hold a public inquiry, and at last establish the full truth around Sean Brown’s murder.

“As Bridie Brown said, five judges have told the British government to do the right thing. That is what the Brown family deserves.”

Last year a coroner halted an inquest into the Brown killing, expressing concern that his ability to examine the case had been “compromised” by the extent of confidential state material being excluded from the proceedings on national security grounds.

Preliminary inquest proceedings had already heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

Coroner Mr Justice Kinney called on the Government to establish a public inquiry into the loyalist murder.

Mr Benn decided against holding an inquiry, arguing that the case could instead be dealt with by a new Troubles investigatory body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

Mr Brown’s widow Bridie challenged Mr Benn’s decision not to order a public inquiry and High Court judge Mr Justice Humphreys found in her favour in December and ordered the Government to establish one.

The Government then appealed against that decision to the Court of Appeal, leading to last week’s judgment.

Bridie Brown, the wife of Sean Brown, supported by her daughters at a court hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)