UK Government Seeks Supreme Court Appeal Over Sean Brown Inquiry Ruling

The UK government has announced it will seek a Supreme Court appeal after being ordered by multiple court rulings to establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder of GAA official Sean Brown in Northern Ireland. The Court of Appeal affirmed that the government’s failure to hold such an inquiry was unlawful, citing obligations to investigate potential state collusion, as intelligence had linked over 25 people, including state agents, to the killing. The Brown family and their supporters, backed by political leaders, have expressed disappointment and frustration at the government’s decision to appeal, emphasizing that a public inquiry is the only way to meet legal and international obligations. Despite the rulings, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn stated that the complexity of the case required further consideration and sought extensions before ultimately moving to appeal. The family’s solicitor and supporters argue the repeated court decisions have made the legal requirement for a public inquiry clear and are urging the government to stop delaying the process. No one has ever been convicted of Brown’s murder, and the family continues to seek truth and justice through a public inquiry.