Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has met with the family of Sean Brown, a father of six and GAA official who was abducted and murdered by an LVF loyalist gang in May 1997 while locking the gates of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Derry.

Ms. McDonald expressed her personal support, and that of Sinn Féin, for the family’s ongoing fight to uncover the truth about his murder.

Mary Lou McDonald said:

“The High Court previously ordered the British Secretary of State Hilary Benn to establish a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown, a father of six and GAA official who was abducted and murdered by an LVF loyalist gang in May 1997. Shamefully, the British Secretary of State has appealed this decision, causing further delays for the Brown family in their campaign for truth after 27 years.”

She added:

“I had the opportunity to meet with Mrs Bridie Brown, Sean’s widow, and her family who shared their frustration during the meeting, showing a fifty-two page intelligence file given to their legal team, where every word, on every page was completely blacked out and redacted.

“The family rightly demand to know why and by whom was their husband and father murdered. They emphasised that only a public inquiry can reveal the truth about Sean Brown’s abduction and murder, and I personally stand with the family in this regard, as does Sinn Féin.

“Uniquely, two High Court judges, Coroner Mr Justice Kinney and Mr Justice Michael Humphreys have both directed the Secretary of State to convene a statutory public inquiry, as the only mechanism to discharge the state’s legal obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“With the Court of Appeal hearing the full case on Thursday, I call on the British government to stop the delay and cover-up. Give the Brown family the answers they deserve and establish a statutory public inquiry which is the only mechanism capable of exposing the truth.”