Crowd backs calls for public inquiry into 1997 murder of GAA official

No-one has been convicted for the death of Sean Brown.

Sean Brown public inquiry — People in the town of Bellaghy, Co Londonderry which came to a standstill on Friday night as they took part in a march in support of the family of Sean Brown (Rebecca Black/PA)

The home town of a GAA official murdered almost 30 years ago came to a standstill on Friday evening as thousands showed their support for his family’s call for a public inquiry.

It comes after the UK Government confirmed that it will seek to appeal to the Supreme Court over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Sean Brown.

Mr Brown’s family met Irish deputy premier Simon Harris earlier this week as part of their campaign to see a public inquiry heard.

Friday evening saw people travel from across Ireland, including as far away as Co Kerry, to Bellaghy to take part in a Walk For Truth event from St Mary’s Church through the town to the home of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC.

Tanaiste Simon Harris (left) speaking to Sean Brown's widow Bridie Brown (second right) and daughters Clare Loughlan (centre) and Siobhan Brown (right) — Tanaiste Simon Harris (left) speaking to Sean Brown’s widow Bridie Brown (second right) and daughters Clare Loughlan (centre) and Siobhan Brown (right) (Niall Carson/PA)

Those in attendance included First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald, SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone and GAA president Jarlath Burns.

Many wore GAA shirts from their home clubs or counties as they showed solidarity with the Brown family.

There was a spontaneous round of applause for Mr Brown’s family who led the procession as it reached the town centre.

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

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

A march in support of the family of Sean Brown (Rebecca Black/PA)

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year 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.

Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier High Court ruling compelling the Government to hold a public inquiry.

It said the failure to hold such an inquiry was unlawful.

However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn says the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the Government or the judiciary.

GAA president Jarlath Burns speaks to media in support of the family of Sean Brown following a meeting with Tanaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings in Dublin on Monday (Rebecca Black/PA)

Addressing the crowd, Mr Burns described the “absolute barbarism” of the murder of Mr Brown as having “only been matched by the depravity of what has happened since, when the family have been denied truth and justice and any sort of decency from the British Government”.

He said Mr Brown would have been proud of how his family have campaigned for justice for him.

“We are not going to stop until we get the public inquiry that this family deserves,” Mr Burns said to applause.

Mr Brown’s daughter Claire Loughran thanked all those who turned out in support of her family.

“We’re honestly overwhelmed by the turnout, it’s incredibly touching to see so many people here and it means a great deal to us,” she said.

“It reminds us that although our journey for truth and justice has been long, we are not walking it alone.”

Ms Loughran added: “We won’t stop, not until the truth is heard, not until justice is done and not until every family who suffers in silence knows that they are not forgotten.”