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Sean Brown murder witness tells of suspect sighting for first time

Conor Spackman and Elaine Forrester
BBC Spotlight
PA Media A framed photograph of Sean Brown is being held on both sides by a person wearing a cream coat. It is held at waist height with nothing else visible. Sean is wearing a white polo shirt with a blue collar and a small red symbol. He has dark hair with greying sideburns and is smiling at the camera. Behind him in the framed photograph is a red brick wall. PA Media
More than 25 people, including state agents, have been linked by intelligence material to Sean Brown's death

An eyewitness to the murder of man nearly 30 years ago has said he was "baffled" that a female suspect he picked out of an identity parade shortly after the murder was released without charge.

Sean Brown, 61, was abducted by the Loyalist Volunteer Force at a GAA club in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, and shot dead near Randalstown, County Antrim, in 1997.

The eyewitness, who is speaking publicly for the first time, saw the woman with two men in a car at the club the night before the murder in what is suspected to have been a scouting mission.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the Brown family had too many unanswered questions and those questions were "valid".

Crimewatch Appeal

In 2024 a court heard more than 25 people, including state agents, had been linked by intelligence to Mr Brown's murder.

The information the eyewitness provided about the woman and the car, a white Vauxhall Nova, was central to a fresh PSNI inquiry and BBC Crimewatch appeal in 2005.

The BBC is calling the witness John to disguise his identity because of his fear of reprisals.

John told Spotlight what happened the night before the murder of Mr Brown, who was chairman of the Bellaghy club.

"I was the last one going out. Sean was still there to lock up," he said.

"I just thought it was just someone turning at the front of the club.

"The lady that was driving the car stared me straight in the face.

"There was two men and they were hiding their faces."

A black and white drawing of a woman with medium to long dark hair on a white page is placed against a blue background. The woman's hair is parted in the middle and her right ear is visible. She has thin, dark eyebrows and dark make up around her eyes. The drawing is cut off at the neckline and has no background.
An artist's impression of the suspect as featured on BBC Crimewatch in 2005

Original investigation 'inadequate'

John told the Spotlight programme, Murder Without Answers, that he took his information to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) shortly after Mr Brown's murder.

He helped compile a photofit and was then brought to Belfast to an identity parade.

"I picked her out right away. I seen the same face right away," he said.

"The woman constable was standing beside me, and she says, yes we have her."

John said that after the identity parade he was shocked when the woman he picked out and other suspects were released.

"I went home and kept listening to the radio, watching TV and a couple of days later these people were let out without charge," he said.

"It left me baffled. I'm still thinking – why":[]}