The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown believe he was identified as a target at local level before his abduction and killing in 1997, according to remarks made during a recent meeting with an Irish-American delegation visiting the north of Ireland.
Clare Loughran, Mr Brown’s daughter, revealed her family’s suspicions during a briefing with a delegation from the US branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Monday.
Speaking at a briefing in Bellaghy, County Derry, Ms Loughran said the family suspect local involvement in the circumstances that led to her father (pictured, inset) being singled out.
Members of the US branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), on a 10-day fact-finding mission, met the Brown family alongside relatives including Mr Brown’s widow Bridie, now in her late 80s, and other family members (pictured).
Mr Brown, a former Bellaghy GAA chairman and a prominent local nationalist, was attacked as he locked the club gates. He was abducted by a Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) gang acting in evident collusion with the Crown forces. He was later shot dead near Randalstown, Co Antrim, on 12 May 1997. He was a father of six.
Intelligence linked to the case has indicated more than 25 individuals may have been associated with the murder, including several state agents.
His family have heavily criticised the British government for appealing court rulings that declared its refusal to hold a public inquiry into the killing unlawful.
During the AOH delegation visit, Ms Loughran said the rural community context made it difficult to understand how the gang had identified her father without local assistance. Her sister Siobhan Brown also accompanied delegates along what is believed to be the route used by the killers after the abduction.
The delegation was also told that material disclosed during an abandoned 2024 inquest contained heavily redacted documents, with one file including 58 completely blanked-out pages.
AOH spokesman Martin Galvin told the meeting that if a basic “gist of the truth” could not be provided in Sean Brown’s case, it raised wider questions about legacy justice for all families affected by the conflict. He said the group intended to raise the issue in the United States and in Congress as part of their advocacy.
Alongside the Brown family meeting, the delegation also heard from representatives involved in other legacy cases, including the Springhill-Westrock inquest, where families of victims of a British massacre have recently secured a date for a verdict following a long-running legal process.
The visit has drawn political criticism. DUP MP Gregory Campbell described the AOH delegation as a “deeply one-sided exercise.
Responding to the DUP MP’s criticism, Mr Galvin said: “Given Gregory Campbell’s attitude to Bloody Sunday victims murdered in his own city, it’s no surprise that he would be hostile to our delegation, which is here to support those families and the families of Sean Brown and the Springhill-Westrock massacre.”
The AOH delegation is expected to continue meetings with campaigners, legal representatives and political figures throughout their visit.
New report proposes way forward for exchange of US driver’s licenses in Ireland
The Irish-US Driver’s Licence Campaign has put forth proposals “to develop less burdensome approaches to facilitating driver’s license exchange” in Ireland.
The Irish-US Driver’s Licence Campaign has published a new report with major recommendations to create a “workable licence exchange system” between Ireland and the US.
The campaign, which was launched in 2025 and features prominent Irish and Irish Americans, says that the inability to exchange American driving licences for Irish ones impacts thousands of returning Irish citizens, as well as US citizens in Ireland for work, every year.
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As it stands in Ireland, a driver can exchange their driving license issued by certain ‘recognized states’ for an Irish driving license. The US is not among the recognized states.
Ireland also requires proof of normal Irish residency – at least 185 days per year – to renew Irish driver’s licenses. With Irish driver’s licenses carrying a maximum ten-year term, many Irish emigrants are eventually prevented from renewing their licenses after moving abroad.
As such, Americans moving to Ireland and Irish emigrants returning to Ireland must go through the full Irish driver licensing procedure to get an Irish driver’s license – even if they have a US driver’s license and or despite having been previously licensed in Ireland. In these instances, however, only six essential driver training (EDT) lessons are required instead of the usual 12 lessons.
(This procedure does not apply to US tourists – US citizens are permitted to drive in Ireland for the duration of a visit up to 12 months, but after that period would have to apply for an Irish license.)
Announcing the publication of the report this week, the Irish-US Driver’s Licence Campaign labeled the current process as “unnecessarily burdensome.”
However, the authors of the report believe that, following extensive review of current Irish and EU legislation, as well as Irish Statutory Instruments related to driving licence exchange, “it is possible to use the experience and current practices of other EU countries to develop less burdensome approaches to facilitating driver license exchange for our returning citizens.”
This report concludes that under Irish law, Ireland could exchange foreign licences unilaterally, without a reciprocal agreement.
Under Irish law, Ireland could, via amendment to Statutory Instrument No. 527 of 2007, add a country or state for the exchange of a foreign license unilaterally, without a reciprocal agreement.
The report stated that, based on review of what is being done in other EU countries, a unilateral license exchange process is practical and permissible by precedent under EU law. This unilateral license exchange process is in alignment with and is permissible by EU driving license Directive 2205 of 2025.
Ireland could reinstate expired Irish driving licences for holders of current licences from other countries, the authors further concluded.
Based on the findings, the report put forth three recommendations for Ireland’s Minister for Transport Seán Canney and the RSA.
The first is to “prioritise license exchange agreements with US states that already have reciprocal exchange agreements with other EU countries.”
It also recommends, via amendment to Statutory Instrument, to allow for unilateral and reciprocal foreign license recognition, as is the case in other EU countries, as well as allow for reinstatement of Irish driving licenses that have been expired for more than 10 years if the person holds a current license from another country.
The campaign, which is co-chaired by Ciarán Staunton and Karen McHugh, is due to present and discuss the report and its proposals to members of the Oireachtas on April 28.
Tim Collins part of senior leadership of security consultancy company tasked with monitoring student groups involved in Palestine protests and animal rights
Tim Collins at the 2024 General Election North Down count PICTURE: LIAM MCBURNEY/PA Wire
A security company linked to a former British Army officer and one-time Ulster Unionist election candidate was tasked with gathering intelligence on university students, it has emerged.
Former Colonel Tim Collins, who first came to prominence as a Royal Irish Regiment battalion commander in Iraq, is a shareholder and part of the senior leadership of the Horus Security Consultancy Group.
Twelve universities paid the company a total of more than £440,000 to open source monitor and provide information both on individuals and groups over three years to the end of March 2025, an online investigative news site has revealed.
One university provided the consultancy firm with a list of student protest groups it asked to be alerted about, including pro-Palestinian and animal rights activists, Liberty Investigates reported
The investigation into the monitoring of protest activity and speakers was carried out in partnership with Al Jazeera.
Mr Collins, who unsuccessfully stood as an Ulster Unionist candidate in the 2024 general election, is listed as a shareholder in Horus Security Consultancy. He is also a directory and the main shareholder in a related company, Horus Global.
Horus Security Consultancy describes itself as a company that delivers “specialist high-quality intelligence and security consultancy, led by one of the most experienced senior leadership teams in the sector”.
The former RIR officer, remembered for his 2003 speech to troops before they went into action and who previously served in the SAS, was contacted for comment on the services provided to the universities. Horus Security was also contacted.
Mr Collins joined the company in 2020. It was established in Oxford in 2006 by Jonathan Whitely, a former lieutenant colonel in military intelligence.
Tim Collins, a former colonel with the Royal Irish Regiment (Andrew Parsons/PA)
Imperial College London, one of the universities that hired the security firm, denied its activities amounted to surveillance of students.
Horus was used to “help identify potential security risks to its community, which might include protest activity within the vicinity of its campuses. All this information is drawn from the public domain”, the university said.
Another, The University of Sheffield, told Liberty Investigates it used the company to “horizon scan” for issues which may affect the university, such as large-scale upcoming protests.
It added that it “did not share student data with Horus or brief it to monitor individuals and its priority is to maintain a safe environment while supporting lawful protest”, Liberty Investigates reported.
However, another university did ask for a “threat assessment” on a Palestinian-American academic invited to speak in a 2023 lecture series in memory of British student Tom Hurndall, killed by an Israeli sniper in Gaza in 2003.
Attorney General issues fresh warning about social media posts ahead of the Donaldson trial.
Jeffrey Donaldson leaves Newry Crown Court
Reporter
24 Apr 2026 2:48 PM
Northern Ireland’s Attorney General has issued a fresh warning around online commentary on court proceedings involving former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
Donaldson and his wife Eleanor are due to stand trial next month accused of historical sexual offences.
Dame Brenda King has issued a warning ahead of the trial, which is set to begin on May 26.
She said anyone who posts material that is in breach could find themselves in contempt of court, and facing up to two years in prison.
Jeffrey Donaldson (63) has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.
Eleanor Donaldson (59) of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, faces charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.
The alleged offences span a time period between 1985 and 2008. There are two alleged victims.
Jeffrey Donaldson, the MP for Lagan Valley from 1997 to 2024, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.
He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after he was charged.
The Attorney General said: “As mentioned in my previous Media Advisory Notice I am concerned about the potential impact of social media postings and commentary on members of any jury as the hearing date for the trial approaches.
“I would remind members of the public that they can be found in contempt of court if something they publish creates a substantial risk that the course of justice in the criminal proceedings would be seriously impeded or prejudiced.
“A sentence of up to two years imprisonment can be imposed.
“Users of social media should therefore take great care before posting or re posting clips or commentary and may wish to delete material at this point rather than risk proceedings being brought against them.
“Further, it is a criminal offence to identify the complainants, who must remain anonymous.”
