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| Date | 12 May 1997 |
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| Location | Near Randalstown, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
On 12 May 1997, Sean Brown, a 61-year-old married father of six and chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Gaelic Athletic Club (GAA), was abducted and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries while locking the club gates.
Sean Brown was born on 20 April 1936 [1] in a rural area outside Bellaghy, County Londonderry, where his father worked at a local clay factory. He attended Magherafelt Technical College after being unable to pursue grammar school due to financial constraints. Early employment included work on a dairy farm and in local manufacturing, followed by night classes that led to qualifications in engineering. During this time, he met Bridie, whom he later married; the couple had six children. [2]
Brown worked in the production of aircraft components before becoming an instructor at Ballymena Training Centre, where he taught welding and engineering apprentices for over three decades. He was actively involved in Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC throughout his adult life, joining the club's committee as a young man and later serving as assistant treasurer and chairman. During his tenure, the club cleared significant debts and undertook major infrastructure projects, including the construction of a new clubhouse, sports hall, and relaid pitch. He also supported cultural activities such as Irish dancing and traditional music classes. [2]
On 12 May 1997, Brown, in his role as chairman, attended a rescheduled Gaelic football match at the club grounds. The fixture delayed the weekly committee meeting, which concluded around 11:15 pm. Brown's son departed the complex at 11:25 pm, while Brown remained to activate the security alarm (set at 11:27 pm), secure the clubhouse, and lock the main gates leading to Ballyscullion Road. He typically followed his son home within minutes to their nearby residence. [3]
After relocating his red Ford Sierra to the roadside, Brown was assaulted at the gates between 11:32 and 11:35 pm by multiple masked individuals. He was forced into the boot of his vehicle, which was then driven away in a three-car convoy. The lead car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, carried false registration plates; a white Ford Escort followed as a support vehicle. The convoy crossed the River Bann and passed Toome RUC station at 11:41:06 pm, approximately five miles from the abduction site. Police later stated that the Ford Escort did not continue with the rest of the convoy into County Antrim. [3]
The vehicles travelled a further 5.2 miles along the A6 to a remote laneway near the M2 motorway outside Randalstown. Brown was removed from the car, shot six times in the head, and the vehicle was set alight. The fire was reported to Randalstown RUC station at 11:45 pm, less than a mile from the scene. Officers discovered Brown's body lying behind the burnt-out car, partially burned by the flames. [3]
The total distance covered was 10.2 miles, consistent with a 10–15 minute journey, though witnesses described the convoy as travelling at speed. One theory suggested the location was chosen to symbolically link the murder to the funeral of RUC officer Darren Bradshaw, who had been killed by the INLA and was buried in nearby Antrim that day. [3]
The killing was initially claimed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), [3] but is widely attributed to the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), a breakaway faction. [4] No one has been charged. [5]
A witness came forward shortly after the murder, reporting that he had seen a white Vauxhall Nova parked near the Bellaghy GAA grounds with a woman in the driver's seat and two men beside her, hiding their faces. The witness recalled that the woman stared straight at him. He later identified her in an identity parade, but she was released without charge. An artist's impression of the suspect was broadcast on Crimewatch in 2005. In June 2025, the witness publicly recounted the sighting for the first time, reiterating details previously shared with investigators and featured in the earlier broadcast. [5]
The case has remained unresolved for decades, with the inquest, opened in March 2023, subject to repeated delays and disclosure issues. [6] In March 2024, the coroner halted the inquest and requested a public inquiry, citing national security restrictions that prevented a fair hearing. [7] [8] The UK government did not establish an inquiry, and on 3 April 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that this was unlawful. [9] On 16 May, thousands of people joined a "Walk for Truth" march in Bellaghy, calling for a public inquiry into Brown's murder. [10] The government has since sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. [11]
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