Government rejects public inquiry into Sean Brown murder

The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown have said they are "utterly devastated” after the government rejected a coroner’s request for a public inquiry.

Mr Brown, 61, was shot dead near Randalstown in County Antrim in 1997 after being abducted by loyalists.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he has "enormous sympathy" for the Brown family but that an inquiry is "not the best way to proceed".

But Mr Brown's daughter, Clare Loughran, told BBC News NI that her family "are never going to give up" their search for justice and the truth about the murder.

In February, it emerged that more than 25 people, including state agents, were linked by intelligence to the murder.

The following month, Coroner Mr Justice Patrick Kinney said a public inquiry was “the appropriate way” to examine the full circumstances of the killing.

He made the request in writing to the government.

The move had the backing of PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher.

Mr Brown’s family heard back from Benn, but they claimed he had “ignored the explicit direction of a High Court judge”.

The family statement added: “It is not the end of our journey. We are not going away.

“This is merely a decision that will be challenged, and we will look forward with renewed enthusiasm to a judicial review already listed for September 26.”

Speaking to BBC News NI on Friday night, Mr Brown's daughter said her family were finding it very difficult to come to terms with the government's refusal.

"There's been a lot of very tough days all along the line for these last 27 years but this has to be one of the low points to it all," Ms Loughran said.

"Daddy was taken from us such a long time ago and we really thought that this time round we might be able to get to the bottom of the truth, but unfortunately this has been another kick."

Ms Loughran explained her family wants a public inquiry into the murder because it would be "completely independent of the government" and would give the family legal representation with the power to call witnesses to seek answers.

She pointed out that a High Court judge had "read all the unredacted sensitive information and he has felt that the only way forward to explore Daddy's case is a public inquiry".

In a statement, the secretary of state said he recognises the decision will come as a disappointment to the Brown family.

"I am, however, confident in the Independent Commissioner for Reconciliation and Information Recovery’s (ICRIR) capability to deliver justice," Benn continued.

"I would therefore encourage Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan [Morgan] and the ICRIR to hear how the independent Commission would approach any investigation into Mr Brown’s death."

But Ms Loughran said her family has "very little faith" in the independence of the ICRIR .

She argued the revelations about state agents were concealed for decades and only came to light as a result of the inquest.

The Browns' solicitor, Niall Murphy, explained they have filed a legal challenge with the High Court.

"The family is not accepting the decision; they do not believe it is a lawful, rational, or reasonable decision," he said.

The lawyer described it as an "immense surprise and intense disappointment".

"They are very, very disappointed," he said, adding: "However, they are stoic."

The Pat Finucane Centre said that the Brown family recently met with Benn.

It said during the meeting the family told the Secretary of State the ICRIR is "unacceptable" to them.

In a statement the centre said the family's view on the ICRIR "has been ignored".

Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

In March, the coroner said Mr Brown's inquest could not continue due to material being withheld on the grounds of national security.

He decided that redactions of intelligence material meant he could not properly investigate the circumstances of the killing.

Instead, he wrote to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, requesting a public inquiry into the case.