Sean Brown’s family criticises decision to appeal over public inquiry ruling
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The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown has criticised a decision by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State to appeal over a court ruling which ordered the UK Government to hold a public inquiry into his death. High Court judge Mr Justice Michael Humphreys said there is “a clear and unambiguous obligation” on the State to carry out an investigation into Mr Brown’s death.
The Northern Ireland Office confirmed that an appeal of the ruling was lodged earlier this week. It comes after Mr Brown’s family called on Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to obey the ruling of the court, which was made last month. A spokesperson for the family expressed “deep regret and disappointment” at the decision.
The 61-year-old was killed as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Londonderry in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his murder. His widow Bridie brought judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of an earlier decision by the Northern Ireland Secretary not to hold an inquiry into his death.
“This appeal was lodged on December 31, New Year’s Eve, and there must be a suspicion that the timing was intended to bury bad news,” the family spokesman said. “His previous decision not to grant an inquiry, which led to the impugned judicial review proceedings, was communicated to us by the NIO at 17.45 on a Friday.
