In a statement on January 20, 2024, a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach, said: “The decision not to engage with this controversial legacy body, Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), isn’t political but justifiable.

“The Brown family continues to stand firm and wholeheartedly reject the Independent ICRIR as a means of finding out the truth.

“Bridie’s husband Seán Brown (61) a GAA official, was attacked and beaten by members of the loyalist death squad, the LVF, as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC and was later shot dead.

“Confidence in such a body (ICRIR) set up by the British state has been a nonstarter as a number of families who continue to seek justice have made clear. British government interests are to protect state actors from accountability and not to get justice for their loved ones.

“Meanwhile, the Irish News reported that more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to Seán’s murder, including several state agents. They concluded that during an earlier attempt to provide the truth through the coroner’s court. Unfortunately for the Brown families it was brought to a swift end since the coroner couldn’t discharge his duties. This was due to the extensive sensitive material that MI5, RUC/PSNI and MoD didn’t want divulged.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach condemns these continued actions of the British regime. People in the Occupied Six Counties have experienced this abuse of power for generations. It is these tactics that were ruthlessly employed in an attempt to crush the indomitable spirit of the Irish nation.

“Ireland unfree shall never be at peace”. (Patrick Pearse, 1915)

PRO
Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive),
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

CRÍOCH/ENDS

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