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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
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
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Family of murdered GAA chairman Sean Brown to meet the Tánaiste
The family of murdered GAA chairman Sean Brown is to meet the Tánaiste Simon Harris in Dublin later, marking the 28th anniversary of his death. The family will arrive for talks at Government Buildings at 5pm. Mr Brown was abducted and shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force as he locked up Bellaghy GAA club in Co Derry in 1997. Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal has affirmed a court order that the UK government should hold a public inquiry into the killing. The UK Government has said it intends to appeal the order to the Supreme Court in London. During an inquest it emerged that several agents of the British state were linked by intelligence to involvement in the murder. It was the first time such information had emerged despite several previous investigations. The inquest was stopped when the coroner ruled that the process was not able to properly deal with redacted intelligence material. The coroner later suggested that a public inquiry was the only avenue which could properly hear such evidence in closed sessions.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- BBC News
Martin O'Hagan: Man charged with fraud in journalist murder investigation
A man charged with fraud by false representation in relation to the investigation into the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan has appeared in court in Craigavon.42-year-old Michael Kingsberry of Sycamore Close in Doncaster is accused of claiming to hold official documents with the intention to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to the family of Martin O' details of the alleged offence were presented in court but Mr Kingsberry said he understood the charge against him and a detective constable said she could connect the accused to the Kingsberry had been on police bail - this was converted to court bail of £500. He is to reside at an approved address. Other requirements include that Mr Kingsberry does not contact anyone connected to Mr O'Hagan or enter Lurgan's 30mph matter will return to court on 13 Kingsberry was arrested in Sheffield in April before being transported to Northern Ireland for questioning in the serious crime suite at Musgrave Police Station in Belfast.A search of a property in Sheffield was also carried out as part of the operation. Who was Martin O'Hagan? Mr O'Hagan was 51 years old when he was killed as he walked home with his wife from a pub on 28 September was a journalist for the Sunday World newspaper when he was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).He was the first working journalist to be killed in Northern Ireland since the outbreak of the Troubles in a reporter for the newspaper, he had built a reputation for stories which exposed paramilitaries and drug dealers operating in Northern has ever been convicted for his murder. Charges brought against individuals in 2010 and 2011 were withdrawn.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sean Brown's daughter labels government 'disgraceful' over legal challenge
The daughter of a GAA official killed by loyalists has labelled the UK government as "disgraceful" for how it informed her family about its decision to challenge a court ruling over a public Brown, whose father Sean Brown was abducted outside a GAA club and shot dead in 1997, said the government had treated the family with Court of Appeal in Belfast had given Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn four weeks to reconsider a decision not to hold an inquiry into Mr Brown's murder at the hands of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).On Wednesday, Benn confirmed he was now seeking leave to appeal the judgement to the Supreme Court, the UK's highest court. More than 25 people, including state agents, have been linked by intelligence material to the 61-year-old's death. 'Distraught' Ms Brown told BBC's Good Morning Ulster Programme that the timing of Benn's announcement and the lack of information given to them beforehand had upset the family."We were distraught at the fact that this information had been released without the family knowing in entirety," she said. "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 mothers house before the press were looking for quotes and statements. "Meanwhile Hilary Benn had given a press conference 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 mother made an impassioned plea to Hilary Benn, not to take her to London, that's fallen on deaf ears, that's the route we now have to go," Siobhan Brown added. Speaking at Westminster on Wednesday, Benn said he remained determined to have a "full, thorough and independent investigation" into Mr Brown's murder."The murder of Sean Brown in 1997 was despicable, and his death caused great suffering and pain to his family, his wife Bridie and the community," he said."I know that the length of time it has taken to provide them with the answers they have been searching for has added to that pain."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 comprehensive response". What have Northern Ireland politicians said? Posting on X on Wednesday, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that the government's decision was "cruel and inhumane"."The Brown family has only ever sought truth and justice for their beloved husband and father."Throughout their decades-long campaign, they have consistently shown immense courage and dignity."The British government must urgently respect the court's decision and establish a public inquiry now," she added. What happened to Sean Brown? Mr Brown was locking the gates of GAA club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones when he was kidnapped by the 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 December, the High Court ruled that current Northern Ireland Secretary 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."
