Journalist Brendan Hughes reported for BBC News NI that the Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court decision demanding a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown by loyalists in 1997. The ruling orders Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to establish the inquiry by 2nd June, pushing Benn to announce his intention to challenge the ruling in the UK’s Supreme Court.
At the courthouse in Belfast, the judges dismissed Benn’s request for more time to consider the Court of Appeal’s ruling and affirmed the lower court’s order. The Brown family, along with Sinn Féin politicians, received applause from supporters as they arrived for the court proceedings. Speaking outside the courthouse, Mr. Brown’s daughter, Claire Loughran, expressed relief and a sense of vindication, emphasizing the family’s insistence on the necessity of a public inquiry to uncover the truth.
Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, called on the secretary of state to convene a public inquiry, while Michelle O’Neill, the first minister, criticized the government’s decision to challenge the ruling. Niall Murphy, the family’s solicitor, welcomed the court’s clear directive to hold a public inquiry, stating that the Brown family is determined to achieve justice for Sean Brown. The political response to the ruling varied, with some condemning the government’s decision to appeal the court’s decision as inhumane and disrespectful.
Sean Brown was abducted and killed by the Loyalist Volunteer Force while locking up the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones. A coroner’s inability to proceed with an inquest due to national security concerns led to the call for a public inquiry. The government’s appeal against the initial ruling was met with criticism from Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan, who highlighted the lack of a proper investigation into Mr. Brown’s death despite more than 25 years passing. The Brown family reiterated their plea for Benn to do the right thing and act in accordance with the court’s decision
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