Bellaghy, Northern Ireland – The family of Sean Brown, a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) official murdered in 1997, is accusing the government of attempting to delay a public inquiry into his death by engaging them in prolonged legal processes.
In March, a coroner stopped an inquest into Mr. Brown’s death and instead requested a public inquiry. However, the government responded by initiating legal action regarding the inquest, leading Mr. Brown’s family to criticize the move as an obstruction of truth and an affront to the judiciary’s independence.
The family’s solicitor expressed grave concern that the government’s actions were a deliberate strategy to entangle them in lengthy legal battles, potentially dragging on for years. The family views this as part of the British government’s broader effort to shield itself from accountability for its handling of historical cases.
Sean Brown, 61, was kidnapped in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, and later found shot near Randalstown in County Antrim. The inquest into his death was halted in March due to withheld intelligence material deemed to be a national security risk, hindering a thorough investigation by the coroner.
The government’s decision to challenge the inquest is believed to be linked to information revealed during the proceedings about state agents and potential breaches of the neither confirm nor deny (NCND) policy. This legal maneuver by the government effectively postpones a verdict on whether a public inquiry into Mr. Brown’s murder will ultimately be granted.
In response, the Brown family condemned the government’s legal actions as an extension of a contentious Legacy Act, aimed at limiting access to justice for victims and restricting civil litigation and inquests related to deaths during the Northern Ireland conflict. The Act, which came into effect in September 2023, imposes a cutoff date of May 1, 2024, halting ongoing inquests that have not reached a final determination by that time.
The police and various victims’ groups have expressed opposition to the Troubles Legacy Act, highlighting the contentious nature of the legislation. Despite these challenges, the Brown family remains steadfast in their pursuit of truth and justice for Sean Brown, refusing to be deterred by legal obstacles imposed by the government in their quest for closure.