British government rejects call for public inquiry

The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown said they were “utterly devastated” after the government rejected a coroner’s request for a public inquiry.

Mr Brown, 61, was shot dead near Randalstown, County Antrim, in 1997 after being kidnapped by loyalists.

Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Benn said he had “great sympathy” for the Brown family but an investigation was “not the best way forward”.

But Mr Brown's daughter, Clare Loughran, told BBC News NI that her family would “never give up” their search for justice and the truth about the murder.

In February, it emerged that intelligence agencies had links to more than 25 people, including government officials, in the murder.

The following month, coroner Patrick Kinney said a public inquiry is “the appropriate way” to clarify the full circumstances of the murder.

He submitted his request in writing to the government.

This move was supported by PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

Mr Brown's family received a response from Benn, but claimed he had “ignored the express instruction of a Supreme Court judge”.

The family statement continued: “This is not the end of our journey. We are not going away.”

“This is simply a decision under appeal and we will look forward with renewed enthusiasm to the judicial review already scheduled for September 26.”

Speaking to BBC News NI on Friday evening, Brown's daughter said her family was finding it very difficult to cope with the government's rejection.

“There have been many very tough days over the past 27 years, but this has to be one of the low points of it all,” Ms Loughran said.

“Dad was taken from us so long ago and we really thought that maybe this time we could get to the bottom of the truth, but unfortunately this was another kick in the butt.”

Ms Loughran said her family wanted a public inquiry into the murder because it would be “completely independent of the government” and would give the family legal representation with the power to call witnesses to get answers.

She noted that a Supreme Court judge “has read all of the unredacted confidential information and believes the only way to resolve Daddy's case is through a public inquiry.”

In a statement, the Foreign Secretary said he was aware that the decision would be a disappointment to the Brown family.

“However, I am confident that the Independent Commissioner for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) will be able to ensure justice,” Benn continued.

“I would therefore encourage Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan. [Morgan] and the ICRIR to learn how the independent commission would handle an investigation into Mr Brown's death.”

But Ms Loughran said her family had “very little confidence” in the independence of the ICRIR.

She argued that the revelations about state agents had been kept secret for decades and only came to light through the investigation.

The Browns' lawyer, Niall Murphy, said they had filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court.

“The family does not accept the decision. They do not believe it is a legal, reasonable or sane decision,” he said.

The lawyer described it as a “great surprise and deep disappointment.”

“They are very, very disappointed,” he said, adding, “But they remain stoic.”

The Pat Finucane Centre said the Brown family recently met with Benn.

During the meeting, it was said that the family told the Foreign Minister that the ICRIR was “unacceptable” to them.

In a statement, it said the family's views on the ICRIR had been “ignored”.

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

In March, the coroner announced that the inquest into Brown's case could not proceed because material was being withheld on national security grounds.

He concluded that the deletion of intelligence material prevented him from adequately investigating the circumstances of the murder.

Instead, he wrote to Northern Ireland Minister Chris Heaton-Harris and called for a public inquiry into the case.