Government appeal over Sean Brown murder inquiry ruling to be heard

A government appeal against a ruling ordering a public inquiry into the murder of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) official Sean Brown is being 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.

The government has said that the Troubles Bill allows for a "reformed Legacy Commission with the ability to conduct Inquisitorial Proceedings, presided over by a judge, in cases such as this".

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 and becomes the Legacy Commission.

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

Claire Loughran, one of Brown's daughters, said it is "extremely frustrating" to be back in court on Tuesday.

"We thought whenever we had the judgment of five different high court judges to say that a public inquiry was the only way to fully investigate and independently investigate my fathers murder, we thought that was it... but unfortunately the secretary of states thought otherwise.

"I was 19 whenever my father died so I feel like it's been my whole adult life that I've been trying to fight this and its been incredibly difficult," she said.

"They have five of these public interest immunity certificates to say that there is sensitive information around his death and we just want to find out what's in that information."

She told Good Morning Ulster they want to "get to the bottom of it".

Loughran said the secretary of state has the ability "to right the wrongs of his predecessors".

Brown 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."

A government spokesperson said it had "enormous sympathy for the Brown family - they have waited far too long for answers".

"The previous Brown judgment raises matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case.

"The Supreme Court will hear the government's appeal against the order made by the Northern Ireland courts in this case to hold a public inquiry.

"The Supreme Court has found the ICRIR to be capable of conducting ECHR compliant investigations and, through the Troubles Bill, we are creating a reformed Legacy Commission with the ability to conduct Inquisitorial Proceedings, presided over by a judge, in cases such as this."