Clare’s Law campaigner Michael Brown, aged 76

A man who successfully campaigned for a woman’s “right to know” after his daughter was murdered by an ex-partner with a violent past has died. Michael Brown, 76, died at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield on Saturday, with his family at his bedside, following a short illness. Mr Brown, a former prison officer, originally from Aberdeen, campaigned for the introduction of “Clare’s Law” named after his daughter, Clare Wood, which allows people to find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence. Mother-of-one Miss Wood, 36, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, George Appleton, in 2009. After lobbying politicians and the media, Mr Brown said he was “quietly delighted” about Clare’s Law, or the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) coming into force in England and Wales in March 2014. The scheme enables victims and potential victims to obtain information about a partner’s previous conviction, enabling them to make an informed decision as to whether to remain in the relationship. Mr Brown’s sister, Carol Whicher, said: “Michael never stopped fighting after he lost his daughter Clare in such horrific circumstances. “He didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate she did and always said if he could save just one person from a life of domestic abuse then his campaigning had been worth it.” Earlier this year, Mr Brown, from south Elmsall, West Yorkshire, received a British Citizenship award. Clare’s Law came into force in England in 2014, Scotland in 2016 and Northern Ireland in 2018. It is also being trialled in Australia and Canada. Mr Brown was also patron of Endeavour, a domestic violence charity in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Picture: PA. Mr Brown, a former prison officer, fought for the introduction of the scheme after his daughter Clare was murdered.