Buncrana Garda station vigil seeks Justice for Derry’s Rebecca Brown

The Justice For Rebecca Browne campaign has organised a “peaceful vigil” at  Buncrana Garda station to highlight what it described as the “failure of the authorities to properly update  and inform the Browne family on all aspects of the Garda and Garda Síochána  Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigations” into the young woman's death. 

The vigil is the second Inishowen event held by the group; on December 20, a sizable crowd braved the cold weather to attend the Justice For Rebecca Browne civic protest at the Ludden beach car park on the outskirts of Buncrana.

Rebecca Browne (21), who was from the Galliagh area of Derry City, lost her life when  she was struck by a Garda vehicle on May 21, 2023 and killed at Ludden. 

The collision was referred to GSOC, which announced in December 2024 the Director  of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had informed it not to direct a prosecution in the case. 

February's vigil will take place outside the McCarter’s Road Garda station at Ardaravan in the  seaside town, on Sunday, February 9, at 1.00pm; the main speaker will be Raphoe  Independent Donegal County councillor Frank McBrearty (Jr). 

The Justice For Rebecca Browne campaign announced this week that Cllr McBrearty would be politically representing Rebecca’s mother, Lynn, and father, Gerry, and her  wider family, as they strive to obtain “answers, accountability and justice” regarding  Rebecca’s death. 

Derry family left 'devastated' by decision not to prosecute gardai involved in woman's death

Rebecca Browne, 21, from the Galliagh area, died in May 2023 in Buncrana after a night out when she was struck by the garda vehicle

Derry family's Buncrana vigil: Rebecca Browne's family seeks answers regarding her death

'The truth is coming. The silence is over' - Lynne Smith, mother

IN PICTURES: Derry family's Buncrana vigil for Rebecca Browne

The event was organised by Rebecca’s family to “demand answers, accountability and justice” regarding her death in May 2023

The campaign reached out to Cllr McBrearty for support  as a result of the similarities in his family’s treatment by An Garda Síochána, regarding  the death of Raphoe cattle dealer Richie Barron. 

Mr Barron’s body was found on a road outside the Donegal town in October 1996.  Initially His death was treated as a hit and run accident but it was subsequently upgraded to a murder enquiry by An Garda Síochána. 

Published in October 2008, the final report of the Morris Tribunal - formally known as The  Tribunal of Inquiry into complaints concerning some Gardaí of the Donegal Division - found that Cllr McBrearty and his cousin, Mark McConnell, had been wrongly  considered murder suspects by the Gardaí.

Tribunal chairperson, Fredrick Morris, described the Garda investigation into Richie  Barron’s death as “an extraordinary shambles”. 

He said: “There is evidence of willful blunders, gross negligence, laziness, emotionally  wrong-headed rushes to judge people as guilty and a determination by some parties  to ensure that, even if there was no evidence, that the suspicions formulated were  going to stick and stick permanently.”

Speaking to The Derry News about the forthcoming Buncrana vigil, Cllr McBrearty said: “All that  Rebecca’s mum, Lynn, dad, Gerry, and family want is the truth about what happened  to their beautiful daughter that tragic night.” 

He added: “I have come onboard to help the Browne family get to the truth, which  hopefully will deliver the justice to which Rebecca and her family are entitled and  deserve. 

“The journey for truth and justice now starts for real. Hopefully, An Garda Síochana  and GSOC will answer the many questions this family has about that fatal night. 

“If those answers to our questions are not forthcoming, then the Browne family will  have no option but to seek redress in the Superior Court for their beautiful daughter,  granddaughter, niece and sister. 

“We know this will be a hard road. There will be many obstacles put in front of the  Browne family in this journey for real justice,” said Cllr McBrearty. 

Cllr McBrearty added that many questions remained “unanswered” about Rebecca’s  death. 

He said: “Was it an accident or dangerous driving that caused Rebecca’s death? The  Browne family needs answers. 

“This could happen to any family, and the Brown family and I hope the public will come  out and support our quest for truth and justice, especially for Rebecca. 

“The Browne Family does not want any family to ever suffer as it is today. The  Browne’s are heartbroken,” said Cllr McBrearty. 

A spokesperson for the Justice For Rebecca Browne campaign said it wanted “justice  and answers” about Rebecca’s death. 

They added: “We want to sit down with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission  and just find out the truth. 

“That is the crux of what would make our 2025 - if we could find out what happened  that night to Rebecca. 

“We appreciate there are a lot of different things that could have happened that night  but we don’t actually know anything. We really, really want to know. 

“It has been nearly two years since Rebecca died and we just want to know what  happened. Even if it is hard to know, we still want to know. 

“We are not afraid of the truth because the truth is the truth. That is what the family  has been saying from day one. The truth is the truth. It is the only thing that remains a  constant in a story. We just want to know what happened.”