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Government appeal over Sean Brown murder inquiry ruling to be heard

Julian O'NeillCrime and justice correspondent, BBC News NI
PA Media A photo of Sean Brown being held, he is a man with dark hair, wearing a white top with blue trim.PA Media
No-one has ever been charged or convicted in relation to Sean Brown's murder

A government appeal against a ruling ordering a public inquiry into the murder of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) official Sean Brown is to be heard at the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Mr Brown, 61, was abducted in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, and shot by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) in 1997.

Intelligence material has since linked state agents to his murder.

The hearing in London is scheduled to last one day, with a judgment coming at a future point in time.

Members of the Brown family are due to attend on Tuesday.

The case has been the subject of repeated legal battles since 2024.

Last year, the Court of Appeal (CoA) in Belfast upheld a ruling ordering a public inquiry and found the government's refusal to establish one was unlawful.

The government is challenging the judgment on multiple grounds.

It accepts there has not been a proper investigation into the murder.

But it is at loggerheads with the family over how the matter is remedied.

It has argued the case can be dealt with by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), once it undergoes reform.

Pacemaker A man in a forensic boiler suit is standing at the rear of a burned out car. The bonnet and back door of the car are opened. The vehicle has been destroyed by fire so no longer has any paint, windows or tyres. It is parked in an area surrounded by security and farming fences with lots of grass. There are also trees and a danger sign in the background.Pacemaker
Sean Brown's body was found beside a burned out car near Randalstown

Sean Brown's family want a public inquiry and are supported by the Irish government, Sinn Féin and the SDLP.

He was locking the gates of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club when he was kidnapped.

He was driven ten 10 miles (16km) in the boot of his car to Randalstown, County Antrim, where he was found shot six times in the head.

No-one has ever been charged or convicted in relation to the murder.

A review of the murder investigation by the Police Ombudsman found it was "incomplete and inadequate".

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said the treatment of Sean Brown's widow Bridie and her family has been "nothing short of disgraceful".

"Rather than supporting the Brown family in their pursuit of truth and justice, the British government has fought them every step of the way," he added.

"Bridie and her family deserve truth, accountability and justice for Sean.

"Sinn Féin will continue to stand with Bridie and the Brown family and every other family seeking truth and justice for their loved ones."