Arrests made in GAA murder probe

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

Detectives investigating the 1997 murder of a GAA official killed by loyalists have arrested 13 people.

Sean Brown, 61, was shot by the Loyalist Volunteer Force after being abducted in Bellaghy.

Police have seized £100,000 worth of vehicles in searches in counties Armagh, Antrim and Tyrone. Guns, ammunition and money were also found.

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.

One woman and eight men are being detained are being held under terrorism laws while one woman and three men are being under proceeds of crime legislation.

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.