Searches begin over 1997 killing

Sean Brown's body was found in a burned out car

Detectives investigating the 1997 murder of a GAA official killed by loyalists have begun a series of searches in three counties.

Sean Brown, 61, was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force after being abducted in Bellaghy in County Londonderry as he left his local club.

The searches are being conducted in counties Armagh, Antrim and Tyrone.

Detectives are being supported by the organised crime branch's operation against unrelated loyalist criminality.

This investigation is into a number of suspected money laundering offences not related to the murder.

It is understood the searches are intelligence led operations planned over some time.

Last month, the BBC's Crimewatch programme reconstructed Mr Brown's murder and a GAA match was recreated.

'Team of investigators'

Last year, Sean Brown's family reached agreement with the PSNI chief constable on how a new investigation should proceed.

It followed a critical report from the police ombudsman on the original RUC investigation into the 1997 killing.

In January 2004, Nuala O'Loan said she had upheld two complaints from Mr Brown's family about the RUC inquiry into his murder.

These were that the investigation had not been "efficiently and properly carried out" and that "no earnest effort was made to identify those who had carried out the murder".

A new team of investigators, including officers from outside forces, is carrying out the investigation.