Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has again insisted he wants a full and independent investigation into the murder.

The GAA official was abducted and murdered by loyalists in Co Derry in 1997

Northern Ireland’s First Minister said the family of the GAA official had ‘waited far too long for truth, justice and accountability’.

The GAA official was murdered in 1997 by loyalists.

The British government is challenging a Belfast High Court ruling that compelled it to establish a public inquiry into the killing of Sean Brown in 1997.

Sean Brown was locking the gates to the Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club training ground when he was ambushed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1997.

Sean Brown, 61, was abducted and killed by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Derry in May 1997.

Sean Brown’s family said the decision was ‘devastating’ but that they would not give up in their calls for an inquiry.

South Down representative Patrick Brown said he will continue to support Alliance and whoever fills his position.

The GAA official was abducted and killed by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in 1997.

The beloved girl band, minus Victoria Beckham, reunited for a tour in 2019, the first time they had performed since the 2012 London Olympics

Mr Justice Kinney said he cannot hold an inquest into the killing of Sean Brown by loyalist paramilitaries due to multiple redactions in the evidence.

A lawyer for Mr Brown’s family said the case for a full public inquiry is now overwhelming.

A barrister representing the family of Sean Brown told a court their treatment by state agencies was a ‘public shame and a public disgrace’.