STATE AGENTS ARE LINKED TO SEAN’S DEATH
»»Court told at least 25 people are connected »»Lawyer says case for inquiry ‘overwhelming’
A NUMBER of people linked by intelligence to the murder of GAA official Sean Brown were State agents, a court heard yesterday.
A lawyer for his family said the revelation was “shocking and upsetting”, adding the case for a public inquiry to be held into the death was now “overwhelming”.
The inquest was also told in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder.
Mr Brown, 61, was abducted by loyalists as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Derry in May 1997. He was shot near Randalstown in Co Antrim.
No one has been convicted of his murder. His inquest began last year and is scheduled to resume next month. Ahead of that, sensitive material relating to the murder must be security-vetted and distributed to the legal parties involved.
The public interest immunity (PII) process in the case has been taking place in closed hearings in recent weeks ahead of a ruling by coroner Mr Justice Kinney on Monday about what material can be considered by the inquest in open court.
FRUSTRATING
Giving an update at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast, counsel for coroner Joseph Aiken said he recognised the PII process was “confusing and frustrating” for families.
He added a “global gist” had been arrived at to summarise what had happened during closed PII hearings.
Mr Aiken said: “Documentation produced to the coroner in the inquest by various agencies of the State consists of extensive relevant non-sensitive and sensitive material.
“The extensive sensitive and nonsensitive material has been reviewed by the coroner in unredacted form.
“It indicates in excess of 25 individuals were linked through intelligence to the murder.
“The intelligence indicates those individuals are said to have been involved at the material time with loyalist paramilitaries.
“Those individuals or potential suspects come from different areas. They are not necessarily linked.
“The intelligence material indicates that at the time of the death of Sean Brown, a number of the individuals linked through intelligence to the murder were agents of the State.
“Intelligence is not evidence but issues relating to the agents of the State and their handling would inevitably fall to be investigated in the inquest if it were possible for the coroner to do so.
“State agencies, for reasons of national security, have asserted public interest immunity in respect of material that substantially bears upon the issues which would otherwise be investigated by the coroner.” Barrister for the Brown family, Des Fahy KC, then asked for a break, noting their “audible and visible upset”.
When the court resumed, he said the family had communicated their relief that Mr Brown’s widow Bridie had not been in court to hear the details given by Mr Aiken.
Mr Fahy added: “Material indicates in excess of 25 individuals were linked through intelligence to the murder.
The family note not a single one of those was charged with any offence in relation to the murder of Sean Brown, never mind brought to court.
DISTRESSING
“The upset and distress of the family is related directly to the content of that global gist.
“For years they have made the case there was collusion and the involvement of State agents in the murder. Nevertheless, it is shocking and distressing to hear that in the context of this inquest.”
Mr Fahy said there was an “inevitability” the inquest would not consider issues relating to agents of the State on national security grounds.
He added: “The case now for a full public inquiry into all the circumstances of the murder of Sean Brown is now overwhelming. I ask the question on behalf of the next-of-kin. What is the attitude of the Secretary of State [Chris Heaton-harris] to the holding of an inquiry?”
“This is a very difficult day for the Brown family. Their focus now, if a viable inquest is no longer possible, is devoting all of their efforts to securing a full and meaningful public inquiry.”