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BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sean Brown's widow calls for answers 28 years after his murder
The wife of murdered GAA official Sean Brown has said she is still looking for answers about why her husband was 61-year-old was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) as he locked the gates of Bellaghy GAA club, County Londonderry, in Brown's family have long campaigned for a public inquiry to get answers about his Brown said her husband "walked with both sides of the community" and doesn't know why he was targeted. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his government said it intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal over the have been two police investigations and a Police Ombudsman investigation into Mr Brown's murder. 'Why choose him?' Mrs Brown was speaking during her first long-form interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast 28 years after Mr Brown's murder."I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody," she said."He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community." The 87-year-old said months before his death, her husband organised a gathering to celebrate poet Seamus Heaney's Nobel Prize in Bellaghy GAA club."They had all come and had a great time so I don't know why," she added."That's the question - why choose him?" 'A nice man' Mrs Brown said she first met her husband while travelling to attend evening classes in Magherafelt, and would often meet up at a shop in the bought a house just one year before they got married in 1965, and the family has lived there ever said her husband was a "nice man" who was always looking out for the children in Bellaghy and was a keen athlete. Last week, thousands of people took part in The Walk For Truth in Bellaghy in support of the Brown came after the government said it will seek a Supreme Court appeal over a ruling compelling it to hold an Brown said she couldn't believe how many people came to support the family, adding there were mixed feelings."It was emotional," she said."Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turn out." Mrs Brown said while it's difficult to live with her husband's death, and the publicity around it, she "takes each day as it comes"."There's not a lot you can do," she added."It's still there at the back of your mind but [you] just carry on as normal as best as you can." What happened to Sean Brown? Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the Loyalist Volunteer Force ( LVF).Early last year, a court heard more than 25 people, including state agents, had been linked by intelligence material to Mr Brown's March 2024 a coroner said Mr Brown's inquest could not continue due to material being withheld on the grounds of national decided that redactions of intelligence material meant he could not properly investigate the circumstances of the he wrote to the then Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, requesting a public inquiry into the case. In December, the High Court ruled Hilary Benn must set up a public inquiry into the government then appealed against that ruling, mounting a legal challenge to the Court of Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said it was "a shocking state of affairs" that more than 25 years had passed but there had been no "lawful inquiry into the circumstances" of Mr Brown's that ruling, Mr Brown's family said Benn should "do the right thing".Mr Brown's widow spoke directly to the NI secretary, saying: "Five judges have told you what to do, do the right thing and please don't have me going to London." Listen to the full interview with Bridie Brown and Mr Brown's daughter, Clare Loughran, on The GAA Social podcast on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
The GAA Social with the family of Sean Brown
On this week's GAA Social podcast, Thomas and Oisin are joined by the family of Sean Brown, a father of six, was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) as he locked gates at Bellaghy GAA club in was 61 years old when he family have sought to have a public inquiry heard into his murder and earlier in May, the Court of Appeal affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his government said it intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal over the wife Bridie and daughter Clare talk about Sean's life and legacy on the GAA Social and you can listen on BBC Sounds right here.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands attend Sean Brown public demonstration
Thousands of people have attended a public demonstration in Bellaghy in support of the family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown. Mr Brown, a father of six, was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) as he locked gates at Bellaghy GAA club, County Londonderry, in 1997. He was 61 years old when he died. The family of Mr Brown have sought to have a public inquiry heard into his murder. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. The government said it intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal over the ruling. A previous court also ruled that the government's refusal to hold an inquiry was unlawful. There have been two police investigations and a Police Ombudsman investigation into Mr Brown's murder. The demonstration, which organisers called The Walk For Truth, left from St Mary's Church in Bellaghy on Friday evening. Thousands of people made their way to Páirc Seán de Brún. Others lined the route clapping the car in which Mr Brown's 87-year-old widow Bridie travelled. Behind the car, her children and grandchildren marched with a banner demanding justice. Sean Brown's daughter Siobhan Brown said the level of support from people had been "unbelievable". "No words can explain exactly how much we appreciate the number of people that have come here from all parts of Ireland," she told BBC News NI. "I hope the British government will take note that the people of Ireland are speaking and the GAA people in particular are totally invested and behind the Brown family." Also in attendance were Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and GAA President Jarlath Burns. McDonald said "all of Ireland" is behind the Brown family's campaign for a public inquiry. "The British government know what they need to do. They need to establish the public inquiry and allow Brown family all of these years later simply to have the truth," she said. O'Neill said the demonstration had sent the British government a message. "I would say to (Northern Ireland Secretary ) Hillary Benn and the British government, take a look, take a look at what's happened here in Bellaghy tonight. "The message couldn't be clearer from here, get on with it, do what is right and proper. "Give the Browns the public inquiry, let them know what exactly what happened. That's all they want, the truth about what happened to Sean Brown," she said. People from all over Ireland joined the march in support of the Brown family. The family said it's the largest demonstration that has been held for their fight for a public inquiry. Mr Brown's family met Irish deputy premier Simon Harris earlier this week as part of their campaign to see a public inquiry heard. Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the Loyalist Volunteer Force ( 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 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 shocking state of affairs" that more than 25 years had passed but there had been no "lawful inquiry into the circumstances" of Mr Brown's death. After that ruling, Mr Brown's family said Benn should "do the right thing". Mr Brown's widow spoke directly to the NI secretary, saying: "Five judges have told you what to do, do the right thing and please don't have me going to London." Family of murdered GAA official meet Irish deputy PM Government to seek Supreme Court appeal in Sean Brown case 'Disgraceful' government has disrespected family - Sean Brown's daughter
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sean Brown: Thousands attend public demonstration in Bellaghy
Thousands of people have attended a public demonstration in Bellaghy in support of the family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, a father of six, was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) as he locked gates at Bellaghy GAA club, County Londonderry, in was 61 years old when he family of Mr Brown have sought to have a public inquiry heard into his murder. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his government said it intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal over the ruling.A previous court also ruled that the government's refusal to hold an inquiry was have been two police investigations and a Police Ombudsman investigation into Mr Brown's murder. The demonstration, which organisers called The Walk For Truth, left from St Mary's Church in Bellaghy on Friday of people made their way to Páirc Seán de Brú lined the route clapping the car in which Mr Brown's 87-year-old widow Bridie the car, her children and grandchildren marched with a banner demanding justice. 'Totally invested' Sean Brown's daughter Siobhan Brown said the level of support from people had been "unbelievable"."No words can explain exactly how much we appreciate the number of people that have come here from all parts of Ireland," she told BBC News NI."I hope the British government will take note that the people of Ireland are speaking and the GAA people in particular are totally invested and behind the Brown family." Also in attendance were Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and GAA President Jarlath said "all of Ireland" is behind the Brown family's campaign for a public inquiry."The British government know what they need to do. They need to establish the public inquiry and allow Brown family all of these years later simply to have the truth," she said. 'Get on with it' O'Neill said the demonstration had sent the British government a message."I would say to (Northern Ireland Secretary ) Hillary Benn and the British government, take a look, take a look at what's happened here in Bellaghy tonight."The message couldn't be clearer from here, get on with it, do what is right and proper."Give the Browns the public inquiry, let them know what exactly what happened. That's all they want, the truth about what happened to Sean Brown," she said. People from all over Ireland joined the march in support of the Brown family said it's the largest demonstration that has been held for their fight for a public inquiry. Mr Brown's family met Irish deputy premier Simon Harris earlier this week as part of their campaign to see a public inquiry heard. What happened to Sean Brown? Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the Loyalist Volunteer Force ( LVF).Early last year, a court heard more than 25 people, including state agents, had been linked by intelligence material to Mr Brown's March 2024 a coroner said Mr Brown's inquest could not continue due to material being withheld on the grounds of national decided that redactions of intelligence material meant he could not properly investigate the circumstances of the 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 Hilary Benn must set up a public inquiry into the government then appealed against that ruling, mounting a legal challenge to the Court of Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said it was "a shocking state of affairs" that more than 25 years had passed but there had been no "lawful inquiry into the circumstances" of Mr Brown's that ruling, Mr Brown's family said Benn should "do the right thing".Mr Brown's widow spoke directly to the NI secretary, saying: "Five judges have told you what to do, do the right thing and please don't have me going to London."
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Family of murdered GAA official meet Irish deputy PM
The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown have said they had a "very positive" meeting with the Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris and that they left him in "no doubt" about their ongoing campaign for a public inquiry into the murder. The meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin on Monday took place on the 28th anniversary of Mr Brown's death. The father of six was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) as he locked gates at Bellaghy GAA club, County Londonderry, in 1997. He was 61 years old when he died. Mr Brown's 87-year-old wife Bridie attended the meeting, alongside her daughters Siobhan Brown and Clare Loughran. Speaking afterwards, Siobhan said the tánaiste had been "very emphatic" about their father's case. She said: "We have made it known what we need." Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal affirmed a previous court ruling compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. The government said it intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal over the ruling ordering it to hold a public inquiry. A previous court also ruled that the government's refusal to hold an inquiry was unlawful. There have been two police investigations and a Police Ombudsman investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During the meeting, Harris told the Brown family the absence of an effective investigation into Sean Brown's death was "simply unacceptable". He also commended Bridie Brown and her family on their tireless campaign for truth over the last 28 years. Speaking afterwards, he said the anniversary of Mr Brown's death was a stark reminder his family have "waited far too long for truth and accountability". "I reiterated this point, as I have previously, to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland in a phone call with him last Friday," he said. "I say it again today and I will continue to use every channel available to me to pursue this matter. "In the absence of an effective investigation into his death – which the UK government agrees has not yet taken place – the passage of time makes this increasingly pressing." GAA President Jarlath Burns was also part of the delegation in support of the Brown family. He said he was also there to represent the support of "all GAA people". Mr Burns said he was "heartened" by what he heard from the tánaiste, adding that the Irish government had lent its support "right from the beginning" and the campaign knew that "it will continue". Last year during an inquest, it emerged that more than 25 people, including state agents, had been linked by intelligence material to Mr Brown's murder. In March 2024, a coroner said the 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. The coroner later wrote to the then secretary of state, Chris Heaton-Harris, requesting a public inquiry into the case. Benn should 'do the right thing' after murdered GAA official court ruling Government to challenge Sean Brown public inquiry ruling
