THE COURT of Appeal in Belfast has affirmed a High Court ruling ordering the British government to hold a public inquiry into the murder of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) official Sean Brown.

The Appeal Court judges said that the order compelling Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn to establish an inquiry would come into effect on June 2.

Mr Benn has already signalled an intent to take the case to the Supreme Court.

He had asked the court to give him a further four weeks before making a final order on the case but judges decided to make their determination today.

The courtroom in Belfast was packed with supporters of the Brown family who accompanied Mr Brown’s widow Bridie and her children to the hearing.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA club in County Londonderry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

The family of Mr Brown were applauded by a large crowd of supporters as they arrived at the Court of Appeal for today’s hearing.

Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald were among those who walked with the Brown family as they approached the court building.

”Bridie and her daughters have epitomised strength and courage for the past 28 years. Their unwavering campaign for truth and justice is a powerful testament to the deep love they hold for their husband and father — and it stands as an inspiration to so many,” Ms O’Neill said on social media.