Dozens of supporters gathered outside the High Court in Belfast on Thursday ahead of a legal challenge brought by the British government after it was ordered to set up a public inquiry into the murder of GAA member Sean Brown.
Mr Brown’s 87-year-old window Bridie was flanked by relatives who carried pictures of her murdered husband as they made their way to court.
Politicians, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and SDLP leader Claire Hanna, were joined by Ulster GAA chief Brian McAvoy.
Others in attendance included North Belfast Sinn Féin MP John Finucane and Mid Ulster SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone.
Mr Brown (61) was attacked and beaten by a LVF gang as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC and later shot dead.
It emerged during an inquest hearing into his death last year that more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.
Secretary of State Hilary Benn lodged an appeal after his government was found to be in breach of a human rights obligation to probe the full extent of state collusion in Mr Brown’s murder.
The British government has urged families impacted by the Troubles to engage with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
However, many believe the commission is part of an attempt to protect state participants from accountability.
CAJ director Daniel Holder said “the courts have already found the ICRIR is no fit for purpose to conduct an investigation in these cases”.
“It’s highly questionable that the secretary of state is still therefore sending families to the ICRIR.
“He needs to urgently introduce legislation to reinstate inquests, repeal the Legacy Act and replace the legacy commission set up by the Tories.”
