UK government challenging ‘unprecedented’ decision by judge to establish inquiry into loyalist murder of Co Derry GAA official in 1997
The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, daughter Clare Loughran, widow Bridie Brown, and daughter Siobhan Brown and son Sean Brown Jr. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA WireThe concealment of the truth about the murder of GAA official Sean Brown for almost 30 years should be a source of “profound shame and embarrassment” for the British state, a court has been told.
Mr Brown , the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Co Derry, 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.Tony McGleenan KC, for Mr Benn, argued that Mr Justice Humphreys was wrong in law to compel the government to set up a public inquiry.
Last year a coroner halted an inquest into Mr Brown’s death, expressing concern that his ability to examine it 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.
Mr Brown’s widow challenged Mr Benn’s decision not to order a public inquiry and Mr Justice Humphreys found in her favour in December, ordering the government to establish one.
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