SDLP to boycott Magherafelt PCS over Sean Brown delays

Sinn Féin have already said that they will not be attending the meeting in support of the Brown family, who requested their local political representatives to boycott the meeting.

Mr Brown (61) was shot dead by the LVF in May 1997 and a preliminary inquest hearing into his killing - the 24th - was postponed due to PSNI delays in producing vital documents.

“There are many outstanding issues on which the Brown family seek clarification which, in my opinion, cannot be adequately answered at the level of a local PCSP meeting,” said Councillor Kearney.

“These matters will have to be dealt with at the highest level and I have therefore requested an urgent meeting with senior PSNI officers. Along with my senior party colleagues Patsy McGlone and Dolores Kelly (MLAs) I will seek to elicit the clarifications and information which the Brown family rightly demand and deserve.

“Sean Brown was a friend of mine for many years and I had the privilege of serving alongside him on committees dealing with community issues. He was a man of the greatest integrity and highest principle. His family now need and deserve all the support they can get in their quest for the truth.

“Out of respect for the wishes of the Brown family I have therefore decided not to attend the next meeting of the Magherafelt PCSP pending the outcome of my request to the PSNI for a high level meeting.”

Meanwhile, the Policing Board last week recommended an independent review of the PSNI inquest disclosure process.

The decision was taken after members of the committee questioned Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris about Mr Brown’s case.