Sean Brown’s daughter labels govt ‘disgraceful’ over felony problem

The daughter of a GAA legitimate killed by means of loyalists has labelled the United Kingdom govt as “disgraceful” for the way it knowledgeable her circle of relatives about its resolution to problem a courtroom ruling over a public inquiry.

Siobhan Brown, whose father Sean Brown used to be kidnapped outdoor a GAA membership and shot useless in 1997, mentioned the federal government had handled the circle of relatives with disrespect.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast had given Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn 4 weeks to rethink a choice to not hang an inquiry into Mr Brown’s homicide by the hands of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

On Wednesday, Benn showed he used to be now in the hunt for go away to enchantment the judgement to the Supreme Court, the United Kingdom’s absolute best courtroom.

Ms Brown advised BBC’s Good Morning Ulster Programme that the timing of Benn’s announcement and the lack of understanding given to them previously had disenchanted the circle of relatives.

“We were distraught at the fact that this information had been released without the family knowing in entirety,” she mentioned.

“To suddenly hear it being broadcast, it’s disgraceful.”

Ms Brown added that “by the time I got home, I hadn’t even reached my mother’s house before the press were looking for quotes and statements.

“Meanwhile Hilary Benn had given a press convention in London,” she said.

Ms Brown accused the government of treating her family with disrespect and of trying to undermine them.

She referred to her 87-year-old mother Bridie’s appeal to Benn last month not to make her go to London to campaign for an inquiry.

“My mom made an impassioned plea to Hilary Benn, to not take her to London, that is fallen on deaf ears, that is the path we have to move,” Siobhan Brown added.

Speaking at Westminster on Wednesday, Benn said he remained determined to have a “complete, thorough and impartial investigation” into Mr Brown’s murder.

“The homicide of Sean Brown in 1997 used to be despicable, and his loss of life brought about nice struggling and ache to his circle of relatives, his spouse Bridie and the group,” he mentioned.

“I do know that the period of time it has taken to offer them with the solutions they’ve been on the lookout for has added to that ache.”

Benn said while the government wanted an investigation that complied with its human rights obligations, the Court of Appeal’s judgment required a “detailed and complete reaction”.

Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the LVF.

Early last year, a court heard more than 25 people, including state agents, had been linked by intelligence material to Mr Brown’s murder.

In March 2024, a 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 the then Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, requesting a public inquiry into the case.

In December, the High Court ruled that current Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn must set up a public inquiry into the murder.

The government then appealed against that ruling, mounting a legal challenge to the Court of Appeal.

However, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said it was “a surprising scenario” that more than 25 years had passed but there had been no “lawful inquiry into the instances” of Mr Brown’s death.

After that ruling, Mr Brown’s family said Benn should “do the precise factor”.

Mr Brown’s widow spoke directly to the NI secretary, saying: “Five judges have advised you what to do, do the precise factor and please should not have me going to London.”

The Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said the UK government’s decision to appeal the court ruling is “a endured affront to a grieving circle of relatives”.

“This is a circle of relatives that has already waited 28 years. They’ve confronted silence, secrecy and now extend disguised and wrapped up in felony procedure.”

He mentioned that the “best viable possibility” is a public inquiry.

“The so referred to as issues cited by means of the British govt have change into a catch-all excuse to forestall transparency, even if the courtroom themselves have demanded overwise, and it can not proceed,” he added.

“The Brown circle of relatives deserve solutions and the general public deserve the reality.”