Sean Brown: State agents linked to GAA official's murder, court hears

More than 25 people, including state agents, have been linked by intelligence material to the murder of GAA official Sean Brown, a court has heard.

A family lawyer described the revelations as "shocking".

Mr Brown was abducted in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, and shot near Randalstown, County Antrim, in 1997.

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

The inquest into the 61-year-old's death opened in March 2023. It is scheduled to resume in March 2024.

Before it resumes, sensitive material relating to the murder must be security-vetted and distributed to the legal parties involved.

The public interest immunity process in the case has been taking place in closed hearings in recent weeks.

Giving an update at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, counsel for the coroner Joseph Aiken KC, said documentation shown to the inquest "indicates that in excess of 25 individuals were linked through intelligence to the murder of Sean Brown".

He added: "The intelligence material indicates that those individuals are said to have been involved at the material time with loyalist paramilitaries.

"The intelligence material indicates that at the time of the death of Sean Brown, a number of the individuals linked through intelligence to the murder were agents of the state."

Mr Aiken said the individuals come from different areas of Northern Ireland and are not necessarily linked to one another.

Barrister for the Brown family, Des Fahy KC, said the family was relieved that Mr Brown's widow Bridie had not been in court to hear the details.

Mr Fahy added: "The family note that not a single one of those individuals was charged with any offence in relation to the murder of Sean Brown, never mind brought to court.

"The upset and distress of the family is related directly to the content of that global gist. For many years they have made the case that there was collusion and the involvement of state agents in the murder of Sean Brown.

"Nevertheless, it is shocking and distressing to hear that in the context of this inquest."

Mr Fahy said there was an "inevitability" that the inquest would not be able to consider issues relating to agents of the state due to national security.

He said the case for a full public inquiry into the murder is now "overwhelming".

In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they acknowledge the comments made by the coroner on Tuesday.

"We have supported the coroner's service during this inquest and we will continue to do so," a PSNI spokesperson said.

"We are acutely aware that today will have been another upsetting and difficult day for the Brown family and we understand the suffering they continue to go through.

"As this is the subject of ongoing inquest proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the police service to comment further at this time."

An NIO spokesperson said that the government acknowledged the "suffering" caused by the murder.

"The Secretary of State will carefully consider the coroner's ruling when it is delivered," the spokesperson added.