Two important issues have again taken the forefront in Ireland. The first centers on the question of Irish unification and the second on the British government’s appeal of a court order compelling it to hold a public inquiry into Seán Brown’s murder. Recent polling on Irish unification evidences that change is on the horizon for Ireland’s future, as the British government continues to impede a family’s resolve to obtain justice for a husband and father.
Support for Irish Unification Increases
A recent survey conducted by Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey and information reviewed from Ireland’s Future indicates that the tide of public support is shifting favorably towards a border poll on the question of Irish unity. Comparatively, a 2021 survey found that those supporting unionism versus those supporting Irish unification stood at twenty-three percent favoring unionism.
By 2023, the survey found that support for unionism was neatly cut in half from the 2021 survey, standing at twelve percent supporting unionism. The recent 2025 survey found another significant reduction in support of unionism. The survey found that those supporting unionism stood at forty-two percent, while those supporting Irish unification stood at thirty-six percent, a difference of only six percent, cutting unionism support in half from the 2023 survey.
In another recent survey, conducted by Queen’s University and Ulster University, young adults, ages 18 to 24, indicated they are supportive of Irish unification. Of those individuals surveyed, forty-eight percent supported Irish unification, while thirty percent supported unionism; a margin of eighteen percent in support of unification. Another twelve percent indicated they did not know enough to provide an answer. According to the University researchers, this was the first time that young adults in the survey’s age parameter indicated support for Irish unification.
The same survey also revealed that Brexit is serving as a catalyst for those supporting Irish unification. Of the individuals surveyed, thirty-seven present said that the United Kingdom leaving the European Union leads them to favor unification of Ireland, while nine percent felt the opposite; a margin of twenty-eight percent favoring unification. Another forty-five percent felt it made no difference in relation to Irish unification.
The Survey results are consistent with the 2016 results of the referendum held in the north on the question of exiting the European Union. On June 23, 2016, a majority of the north voted 55.8 percent to 44.2 percent, to remain in the European Union.
The bottom-line question of the survey is the big tell. Of those surveyed, a full sixty-one percent said that they are certain that Irish unification will occur within the next twenty years. Only sixteen percent felt that unionism will carry on. The result begs the question for implementing preparation and planning for a border poll.
Ireland’s Future
Recently, Niall Murphy, Secretary and founder of Ireland’s Future and distinguished international human rights solicitor, spoke to the leaders of the Irish American organizations situated in Columbus, Ohio. During his remarks he was clear that “Irish unification is no longer aspirational but is inevitable.”
To that point, Mr. Murphy emphasized to these leaders that when the Irish diaspora in the United States speaks, Ireland listens. Put simply, Irish America must speak up and weigh in.
There are multiple ways to speak up and weigh in on the Irish unification question. If you are a member of The Ladies Ancient Oder of Hibernians or The Ancient Order of Hibernians, you may reach out to your division’s Freedom for All Ireland chair for information on participation.
If you are a member of an Irish American club, you may reach out to your Irish Unity chair, or a point person in the club involved in Irish unification, for information. If the club is less focused on Irish unification, you may also reach out directly to organizations such as Ireland’s Future, https://irelandsfuture.com, or Friends of Sinn Féin, https://friendsofsinnfein.com, to find out how you may engage and make your voice heard.
Read iIrish newsmagazine in print or online for news, updates, content and context each month. iIrish has taken a vocal, financial and active role in support of a united Ireland and Ireland’s Future.
British Government Continues to Thwart Inquiry into Sean Brown’s Murder
Recently, after losing a decision in the Court of Appeals Belfast, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, sought an appeal of the decision compelling him to hold a public inquiry into the murder of Seán Brown.
Seán Brown was the Chairman of the Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) club. He was not affiliated with any paramilitary organization or political party. On May 12, 1997, while closing the club for the night, he was kidnapped, beaten, and shot in the head by members of the LVF.
On April 3rd of this year, the Court of Appeals Belfast ruled that the Secretary of State must conduct an independent public inquiry into the murder of Seán Brown, and it must be established without further delay. The appellate court decision came twenty-eight years after Seán Brown’s murder. Regrettably, the case does not end here.
The British government had left no doubt that it would appeal the decision of the Court of Appeals Belfast. However, the Crown Solicitor, arguably outside the bounds of common legal courtesy and collegiality, applied to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom for permission to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeals.
What arguably places this application submittal outside the bounds of legal courtesy is the timing and lack of disclosure prior to its submittal. On the day that the Crown Solicitor submitted its application, the Brown family’s solicitor, Niall Murphy, was in the United States presenting on the documentary Murder of a GAA Chairman with its producer, Trevor Birney. The documentary addresses the circumstances surrounding the murder and the twenty-eight-year absence of justice in the case.
Neither the family nor Mr. Murphy were given advance notice that a submittal was going to be made. The family only became aware of the application through media outlets. The choice of the day, and the time of day at which the Crown Solicitor submitted its application to the Supreme Court, coupled with a lack of notification that the application was being filed, was discourteous at best.
Friday News Dump
Mr. Murphy was in Columbus, Ohio. It was a Friday. The time difference between Belfast and Columbus is five hours, with Belfast being ahead of Columbus.
Because of the Crown Solicitor’s timing, Mr. Murphy was put in an untenable position. He learned about the submittal on a Friday, sometime between 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST. The Crown Solicitor made no attempt to contact Mr. Murphy as solicitor to the Brown family.
Mr. Murphy responded publicly to the Crown Solicitor’s action stating that, “[l]ate on Friday night [May 30, 2025], the Brown family found out via a media report on the RTÉ website that a permission to appeal application had been lodged on Friday with the Supreme Court. This is further occasion on which a crucial development in this case has been in the media before the Brown family were afforded the common courtesy of being informed.” Mr. Murphy added that, “[s]ince May 3 there has been no communication of any kind with the Brown family, in direct contravention of what was submitted to the Court of Appeal on that date.”
Siobhán Brown, the daughter of Seán Brown, publicly stated that, “[the British government’s application] is not acceptable[sic] and our family will resist and fight this in court. We are confident that we benefit from the support of the entire community who will join us in rejecting [the British government’s appeal].”
Bridie Murphy, the widow of Seán Brown, has appeared in court 59 times over a twenty-eight-year period. For Mrs. Murphy and the Brown family, their legal fight is far from over and will not end until justice is achieved.
