Jarlath Burns, the GAA president, has expressed growing frustration within the GAA due to the UK government’s refusal to conduct a public investigation into the abduction and murder of Sean Brown 27 years ago. Numerous unresolved issues regarding the killing of the GAA official have been pointed out by Mr. Burns.
In 1997, Sean Brown (61) was kidnapped and assaulted by loyalist paramilitaries as he closed the gates of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club, located in Co Derry. His murder has yet to result in any convictions.
Earlier this year, it was stated by a coroner that his ability to investigate Mr. Brown’s death was limited due to confidential state information withheld from the courts for reasons related to national security.
Background checks for the inquest had already revealed links between over 25 individuals and the murder, which included several state agents. It was also indicated in court that surveillance of a murder suspect had been temporarily halted on the night of the murder, only to be recommenced the following morning.
Coroner Mr. Justice Kinney expressed his intention to urge the Northern Ireland Secretary to request the UK government to launch a public inquest into the loyalist murder. Despite this, Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, indicated in a letter to the Brown family on Friday, that a public investigation was not the most appropriate course of action.
In an interview with BBC Sunday Politics, Mr. Burns stated, “There’s a significant amount of anger about this within the GAA. Initially believed to be random sectarian murder, it became clear through the coroner’s investigation that there were 25 individuals involved, including numerous government agents. Notably, surveillance on one agent was dropped on the eve of the murder. Many questions still remain unanswered.”
Furthermore, he added: “The coroner had pointed out that the only way to uncover the truth behind the tragedy involving a GAA chairman in Bellaghy would be through a public inquiry.”
In expressing his deep empathy towards the Brown family, Mr. Benn urged them to approach the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery for an investigation into the fatality. Only a week prior, Mr. Benn had disclosed plans of setting up a public inquiry to probe into the long-pending homicide of solicitor Pat Finucane. Finucane was brutally shot dead at his home in Belfast in 1989, in the presence of his family, by the Ulster Defence Association. Numerous investigations have revealed involvement of the state in this dreadful act. The basis for Mr. Benn’s decision was the compelling fact that, in spite of the UK government’s commitment over two decades ago to initiate an inquiry into Mr. Finucane’s murder, it remains undelivered till today. – PA.