First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said the UK must "act swiftly" to order a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown.
The Sinn Fein vice president was speaking after a High Court judge ordered the UK Government to hold a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown.
Mr Justice Michael Humphreys said on Tuesday there is “a clear and unambiguous obligation” on the State to carry out an investigation into Mr Brown’s death.
Read more: UK Government ordered to hold public inquiry into Sean Brown murder
Read more: Sean Brown’s family says Government legal challenge is an ‘attack on truth’
Sean Brown, 61, was abducted and killed by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Derry in May 1997. No one has ever been convicted of his murder.
His widow, Bridie, brought judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of the decision by the Northern Ireland Secretary not to hold an inquiry.
In his judgment on Tuesday, Mr Justice Humphreys told the court in Belfast: “I’ve concluded that there is a clear and unambiguous obligation on the State to carry out an Article 2 compliant investigation.
“No viable alternative to a public inquiry has been advanced. In these circumstances, there can be only one lawful answer, a public inquiry must be convened to satisfy the State’s Article 2 obligation. The breach of duty in the circumstances of this case, bearing in mind the rule of law, is such as the call for the grant of mandatory relief to compel the State to fulfil its clear legal duty.
Responding to the judgement, Michelle O'Neill said: "“Sean Brown’s family has fought every step of the way to achieve truth and justice following his murder in 1997. Today’s ruling in the High Court has concluded the only lawful way for this case to comply with human rights’ legislation is through a public inquiry.
“This is an unequivocal decision by the judge, and must be accepted by the British government. There can be no further delays to this case. It is now clear the British Secretary of State’s previous referral of Sean Brown's murder to the ICRIR was flawed and failed to satisfy the British government’s Article 2 obligations."
She added: “I want to commend Sean’s wife, Bridie, and the entire family who did not give up despite decades of delay and denial. To uncover the full extent of Sean’s murder, Hilary Benn must now act swiftly to hold a public inquiry and at last, deliver truth and justice for the Brown family."
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, meanwhile, said: "This will be a hugely emotional day for the family of Sean Brown who have had to overcome unimaginable obstacles simply to get the answers they deserve into the murder of their beloved husband and father.
"Sean was held in the highest regard right across our community and I know that everyone will be thinking of the Brown family today. It should never have taken this long or a court for a public inquiry to be ordered. It has been clear from the day and hour of Sean’s murder that there are significant questions for state agencies to answer over this case."
He added: "The Secretary of State must bring forward this public inquiry as soon as possible and it must answer the questions of the Brown family around why this happened and who was involved. They have faced down repeated attempts by the British government to close down truth and justice on this case and this decision today is a testament to their refusal to give up, their strength and dignity."
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