Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NOAH PROTEST OVER PSNI INQUEST FILES
Schoolboy’s mum & aunt hand over petition against legal bid
SUPPORTERS of the family of Noah Donohoe gathered at police headquarters yesterday to protest over a bid to secure an injunction on sensitive material in his inquest proceedings.
Noah’s mother Fiona and aunt Niamh were joined by a large crowd outside the PSNI base in East Belfast.
The St Malachy’s College pupil, 14, was found dead in a storm drain in the north of the city in June 2020, six days after he went missing.
Many of those gathered were holding blue balloons in memory of Noah while others carried pictures of the teenager and placards opposing the PSNI bid to secure a public interest immunity certificate.
Fiona is hoping to secure answers through the inquest and launched a petition last week against the use of PII certificates in the case.
The petition, signed by more than 288,000 people, was handed over to Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton.
Thousands have also been tweeting Chief Constable Simon Byrne to ask for the files to be made public.
Police have stated from the outset that they believe there was no foul play in the cause of Noah’s death.
PII certificates are sought by police seeking to withhold evidence they consider damaging to public interest.
The inquest into Noah’s death was
originally scheduled to begin on January 10 this year.
That date was vacated in November due to outstanding issues, including with the disclosure process and Ombudsman’s probe. Fiona said: “We need to know
everything about what happened to Noah. You would want to if it was your own child and all of the people here today realise that it could be their child.
“It could be four files or one sentence but whatever it says we need to know and we want to see it.
We won’t give up and will try everything to stop this PII request.”
Niamh added: “No other family can go through this so that’s why we need to get justice for Noah.
“It’s so wrong and whatever is in those files we need to see.”
ACC Singleton said: “I accepted copies of a petition... and assured Fiona that we remain fully committed to finding answers for the Donohoe family.
“The disappearance and death of Noah Donohoe is subject to an ongoing coronial investigation.”