Sean Brown: PSNI apologises to family of murdered GAA official

Sean Brown was abducted from the grounds of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC in 1997

The PSNI has paid an undisclosed sum to the family of a GAA official murdered by loyalists in 1997 and apologised over inadequacies in the original investigation.

Sean Brown, 61, was abducted in Bellaghy, County Londonderry and shot near Randalstown, County Antrim.

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

No-one has ever been convicted of the murder.

It is 25 years to the day since Mr Brown was killed.

Sean Brown's body was found in a burnt-out car near Randalstown

A statement agreed between Mr Brown's family and the PSNI was read out in court, in which the victim was described as a "devoted family man and a pillar of the Bellaghy community".

It added that the PSNI "continues to engage fully in the ongoing inquest proceedings".

The Brown family's solicitor Niall Murphy, speaking outside court after the PSNI settlement, said: "This family should never have had to take litigation to extract a semblance of accountability and all it is is an apology."

He added that while it was welcome, it "should never have been the case, there should have been an adequate, full, exhaustive investigation at the appropriate time".

'Mixed emotions' after 25 years of struggle

The apology, along with an undisclosed financial settlement, brings the long-running legal action brought by Mr Brown's widow to an end.

It had been her case that the police had protected the LVF killers and that this was reflected in a sub-standard investigation conducted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

The RUC was the police force at the time of Mr Brown's murder.

It was reformed and renamed as the PSNI in 2001.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Brown's grandson Damon Brown said it was a day of "mixed emotions" and described the settlement as "a step", after a terrible 25 years of struggle.

Sean Brown's family said the PSNI apology and financial settlement was a step toward getting the answers they need

"It's one step forward instead of ten steps back," he said. "Hopefully the inquest will bring the answers we need."

The coroner's inquest has been consistently delayed due to several issues, including the disclosure of documents.

Long campaign for justice

The Brown family have been campaigning for years, during which time there have been a number of reports criticising the RUC's investigation into the killing.

In 2004, the then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said an investigation by the RUC into Mr Brown's murder was "incomplete and inadequate".

It said the investigation had not been "efficiently and property carried out" and that "no earnest effort was made to identify those who had carried out the murder".

Mr Brown's murder was then re-examined by the now defunct Historical Enquiries Team, which was also critical of the RUC investigation.

Sean Brown's son Damian, who campaigned for justice for his father, died in October 2021

In 2015, it emerged during the inquest that relevant classified material was lost and redactions, including the blanking out of names, on 34 folders of non-sensitive material had not been completed by the PSNI.

Despite delays the family's solicitor Niall Murphy said the inquest will take place and has been scheduled.

He also paid tribute to Sean Brown's son, Damian Brown, who had attended every day of the inquest hearings.

He died in October 2021 after a short illness.

'Validation of all of his perseverance'

"There was 34 preliminary hearings, often days of frustration, often days where he left insulted, but he came back every single day." Mr Murphy said.

"Whilst today is welcome, it is bittersweet that Damian isn't here."

He added: "Today is a validation of all of his perseverance to preserve the integrity of his father's memory."

A tree was planted at Bellaghy Bawn on Thursday evening to commemorate the anniversary of Mr Brown's death

The 25th anniversary of Sean Brown's death will be commemorated by his club Bellaghy Wolfe Tones with a number of events.

This included the planting of a tree and unveiling of a stone plaque, inscribed with the poem "The Augean Stables" written by the late Seamus Heaney after hearing about his death, at Bellaghy Bawn, on Thursday evening by the GAA's (Gaelic Athletic Association) president Larry McCarthy.

The poem was also read aloud by actor Stephen Rea to those in attendance including the GAA official's widow Bridie Brown.