PSNI to reinvestigate murder of GAA official in 1997

The PSNI has announced plans to reinvestigate the murder of a GAA official in Bellaghy, Co Derry, almost seven years ago.

61-year-old Sean Brown was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries after being abducted while closing the gates of the Wolfe Tones GAA club in May 1997.

Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is due to publish a report into the murder later today.

The report is expected to describe the RUC inquiry into the killing as inadequate and to call for a fresh, independent investigation.

In a statement released this morning, the PSNI said it had read Ms O’Loan’s report and recognised that there were significant failures in the original investigation.

However, the statement also claimed the investigation did not receive full co-operation from the local community and added that there was no evidence of police collusion in the murder.