The British government has once again sought to delay and deter justice in its recent decision to appeal the Sean Brown case. This unfortunately is a well-worn path that has been used time and time again to cover-up British state collusion in the case of a tragic, sectarian murder.
Bruce Morrison, Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee stated, “We expected much more from the Prime Minister and the Labor government. Prime Minister Starmer promised to Repeal and Replace the Legacy Act. Since taking office, it has been all backsliding. This is just the latest case of seeking to delay and deter the proper application of GFA Human Rights requirements to victims in Northern Ireland. The specter of state collusion followed by cover-up is as familiar as it is disturbing.”
Morrison continued, “We will work closely with our Congressional allies to impress upon the new British Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and Northern Ireland Secretary of State of Hilary Benn that we will make the decades of state collusion, abuse of the justice system and disregard of the victims a matter of pointed discussion when they arrive in Washington.”
The facts are clear:
- A father of six, Mr. Brown in May 1997 was abducted and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries when was locking the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in Co Derry No one has ever been convicted of his killing. Ever since his family has sought a full public inquiry into the murder. Last year a long-delayed Coroner’s inquest revealed evidence that of state collusion.
- When that inquest was shut down by the so-called “Legacy and Reconciliation Act,” Mr. Brown’s 87-year old widow Birdie this past December was granted a judicial review challenge by Northern Ireland High Court Mr. Justice Michael Humphreys, who said there was a “clear and unambiguous obligation” to establish a full statutory inquiry.
- In light of the government’s unfathomable decision to appeal this decision, the Brown family stated: “Regrettably it would appear that the Secretary of State has decided that our mother will now enter her 88th year still denied the truth of how, why and by whom her husband was abducted, beaten and murdered. This is shameful.”
Professor Martin Flaherty, a well-established human rights lawyer at Fordham and Princeton universities, who has spent decades working in Northern Ireland stated, “We had high expectations that the new Secretary of State Hilary Benn would break new ground and create a fresh path to justice and fairness for the many victims. Unfortunately this is not the case. This decision seems particularly cold and callous in how it was announced as well. The Ad Hoc Committee stands in full solidarity with the Browns, and with all victims and victims’ families for whom this appeal represents yet another chapter in a decade’s long story of delay and evasion of responsibility.”
Contact: Kevin J. Sullivan 301 538 9080
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