Page 4 | Aibu to think if the worst happened and your child died in mysterious circumstances you should have a right to know what happened.

Turningpurple · 2022-03-26T19:11:04+00:00

Just as the title says. Noah Donohoe disappeared coming home from school, his body was found in a storm drain without his clothes. His mother can not get answers on why the police decided, immediately that there was no four play and us being blocked from seeing 4 files by the police. She says *On the day Noah was found, before Noah was formally identified, the Police did a media release stating that there was ‘No Foul Play’ involved.I ask, if the police are so sure that ‘No Foul Play’ was involved, why are the police now trying to stop me, as Noah’s mummy, getting four files of information on Noah’s investigation?* Surely I am not unreasonable to think this isn't ok and that most of use would want to know what had happened to our child? This is an overview of what has happened so far. [[https://mobile.twitter.com/MarymoBelfast/status/1370453351616425985?s=20&t=yryUQok3nQ619uJUawvnjg]]

SpicePumpkin · 26/03/2022 23:27

@SweetPetrichor

I vote YABU simply because nothing can be gained. No matter how tragic a loss it may be, nothing will change. Honestly, everyone on this thread who is fretting over it is effectively using it for their Saturday night entertainment and that’s it.

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever read on here. Are you stupid?Nothing to gain? How about catching a murderer, before they do it again and getting some justice and closure for Noah and his family?

unspeakableIsUnbearable · 26/03/2022 23:28

@TooBigForMyBoots

YANBU *@Turningpurple. The whole case stinks to high heaven. The police released all kinds of mistruths and IMO failed to investigate Noah's disappearance properly. The "discovery" of the body and rush by police to assure the public of No foul play* was suspect as fuck at the time and looks no better now.

The very least they can do is give Fiona all the information they have on her son's disappearance and death.

100%. It stinks to high heaven. His poor mother. Disgustingly, the police have a shite response and his mother challenges this and his mother gets arrested.

JacquelineCarlyle · 26/03/2022 23:30

@TooBigForMyBoots

YANBU *@Turningpurple. The whole case stinks to high heaven. The police released all kinds of mistruths and IMO failed to investigate Noah's disappearance properly. The "discovery" of the body and rush by police to assure the public of No foul play* was suspect as fuck at the time and looks no better now.

The very least they can do is give Fiona all the information they have on her son's disappearance and death.

You've put into words exactly what I was thinking! Hi

Ownedbymycats · 26/03/2022 23:31

I'm assuming the policing ombudsman can only deal with this case when the inquest is complete.
It's such a tragic and haunting case and the family need resolution.
The suggestion that he was assaulted near the outset of his cycle journey is very sad, link attached.
www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/01/19/news/businesses-asked-to-check-cctv-for-possible-noah-assault-2191376/

unspeakableIsUnbearable · 26/03/2022 23:38

Does anyone have faith in the police ombudsman? It's not like this is a typical U.K. police ombudsman position. Personally my faith in this ombudsman has gone walkies.

TheRealMrsMac · 26/03/2022 23:49

The date for the inquest hasn't been set - for later this year or even next year - yet:
www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2022/02/08/news/coroner-says-he-cannot-give-assurance-when-noah-donohoe-inquest-will-take-place-2583906/

This also talks about the 3 files of 'sensitive information'.

EmmaH2022 · 26/03/2022 23:49

I'm hoping SweetPetrichor has got the wrong end of the stick, don't how to explain that response otherwise.

YouCantTourniquetTheTaint · 27/03/2022 00:23

Absolutely heartbreaking for the family first of all

I've read up on this case and it seems from the media that he had a cycling accident which disorientated him, then he ended up in the storm drain where he died. Now if that's the case why is it taking so long for the police and coroner to release information to the family to corroborate this.

This makes me think that either there is more to his death, like foul play from a third party or...

Or the police have fucked up royally, and when the last person who saw him alive, found his bike and lived near the storm drain gave information to the police the day after he was reported missing, and the police maybe didn't search the storm drain, or didn't search it thoroughly, and the coroner puts his time of death after this information was passed on to them, and after a first search, meaning he potentially could have been saved. It puts the a different spin on the situation. Are the police covering their own arses, against a public enquiry, heads rolling and a massive lawsuit.

Whatever the reason, I hope the family gets some answers.

EthelTheAardvark · 27/03/2022 00:42

I don't see how the official cycling accident explanation can possibly be consistent with the talk of files full of sensitive information that need a Public Interest certificate to protect them from disclosure. If it was purely an accident, why shouldn't Noah's mother see the files?

Rhannion · 27/03/2022 02:13

@SweetPetrichor

I vote YABU simply because nothing can be gained. No matter how tragic a loss it may be, nothing will change. Honestly, everyone on this thread who is fretting over it is effectively using it for their Saturday night entertainment and that’s it.

I think your comment is disgusting, completely lacking in compassion and empathy.

If that poor lad was murdered then what’s to stop it happening again?
Why must Noah’s mum & family have to fight for justice like the families of Stephen Lawrence and Ann Williams?
The police work for us, and are accountable to the people they serve.

Original poster

Turningpurple · 27/03/2022 05:34

@SweetPetrichor

I vote YABU simply because nothing can be gained. No matter how tragic a loss it may be, nothing will change. Honestly, everyone on this thread who is fretting over it is effectively using it for their Saturday night entertainment and that’s it.

What do you mean nothing can be gained. The child's mother wants to know. That's what can be gained.

I very much doubt if it as your child, you wouldn't be interested in why and how they ended up dead. You would want to know why this happened. I very much doubt you would say 'ah well, it's done now. Time to move on'.

Then there's the issue of the Police just being able to hide whatever they want. Do what they want, make mistakes or even deliberately hide evidence and nor be accountable. That impacts everybody.

Can't even be arsed addressing the Saturday night entertainment comment, tbh, as it doesn't make sense.

OP posts:

Original poster

Turningpurple · 27/03/2022 05:38

@EmmaH2022

I was wondering how easy or hard it is to access a storm drain.

Saying "no foul play" from the start seems bizarre.

I can't find it now, but I am 95% sure o read the other day that no one is able to say how the storm drain came to be unlocked. That's never been established, unless it's in the files.

But as I can't find it again, I don't want to give the impression I am certain about that. I am nor sure how storm drains work either.

OP posts:

pompomseverywhere · 27/03/2022 05:47

Isn't there a petition about this? Maybe sharing a link to that might help op

Original poster

Turningpurple · 27/03/2022 05:51

@pompomseverywhere

Isn't there a petition about this? Maybe sharing a link to that might help op

There is, but when the petition is linked MN move the thread to to the petitions section. Where its almost impossible to get into active threads.

OP posts:

unspeakableIsUnbearable · 27/03/2022 09:40

@Turningpurple the police maintain he was like a kilometre into the storm drain.

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 27/03/2022 10:09

Surely forensics would be backing that up? It is an absolute horror to think of it. How a pp thinks it wouldn't help yo know how your precious child lost their life, I don't know.

Ownedbymycats · 27/03/2022 10:15

I don't understand why the material can't be redacted but imagine the police were dealing with contacts within the community poor Noah was found in to establish what happened to him.The CCTV records seem to only show fleeting images of him and he's cycling with purpose when he is shown.

HerbertChops · 27/03/2022 11:03

@EthelTheAardvark

I don't see how the official cycling accident explanation can possibly be consistent with the talk of files full of sensitive information that need a Public Interest certificate to protect them from disclosure. If it was purely an accident, why shouldn't Noah's mother see the files?

This. It just doesn’t add up. Any of it. I’ve just read through what I can find and there’s so many questions. Four files of sensitive information and they’re still saying it was all an accident, nothing to see hear. Even if names have to be redacted his mum deserves to know what happened to her son. It’s absolutely outrageous, from start to finish.

I’d never heard of this case, I read a lot of news from different sources but never seen anything here in London about it. It’s horrendous, poor Noah and his poor mum. The inquest hasn’t even been set yet, yet he died in June 2020.

EmmaH2022 · 27/03/2022 11:58

Thanks OP
I wasn't thinking of the lock so much as how easy it is to get to the drain initially. I thought there'd be more than one locked gate for that type of drain because of the chances of people trying to access them.

I suppose if you're looking and you are determined, then you can access them...but that certainly doesn't fit with someone concussed and confused.

Original poster

Turningpurple · 27/03/2022 12:19

@EmmaH2022

Thanks OP I wasn't thinking of the lock so much as how easy it is to get to the drain initially. I thought there'd be more than one locked gate for that type of drain because of the chances of people trying to access them.

I suppose if you're looking and you are determined, then you can access them...but that certainly doesn't fit with someone concussed and confused.

I totally agree.

I would have thought one of the first things they would have looked at is how he got in there, why he did, how was it possible, how did he managed to get 1KM (as pp said) etc.

Especially if they saying he was concussed and Confused. Not one bit makes sense.

OP posts:

TheRealMrsMac · 27/03/2022 14:28

Thinking of Fiona Donohoe today.

Dobbysgotthesocks · 27/03/2022 14:36

I've been thinking about this case a lot since this thread appeared. I've done quite a lot of reading around the case too and it really makes no sense at all.
The only conclusion I can come to is that is all the missing information is in the 'missing' cctv. It makes no sense for there to be so few sightings of him on roads covered by extensive cctv.
The police must know what happened to him and I believe they are either covering for one of their own or they fear the consequences if the truth were to be known.
None of which justifies a grieving mother being denied information about how her son died.

Wherever you are today Fiona my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Silverclocks · 27/03/2022 14:37

If there was no foul play what could be there that it's "in the public interest" to conceal.

I'm sure the files would be very distressing to read, but surely that's his mother's choice to make? The police can't decide she needs protecting from them.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 27/03/2022 14:39

As well as finding the drain/knowing where it is (it's not easily accessible) he was found a full kilometre into it. He was afraid of the dark. It was very dark in there. Dirty, wet, lose stones etc yet there were no scratches or marks on him at all that would have suggested he dragged himself (naked) through it. Plus as I said there was no water sample taken for the pathologist so they couldn't actually confirm that he'd drowned there.
When the police went to that persons room in the hostel and found Noah's laptop, Noah was still missing. Yet they didn't bring her in for questioning! They just let her go back to bed!! The whole thing is astonishing to me. Even without having had a days police training I know from common sense what things should have happened. Its absolutely shameful how the PSNI handled (or didn't) this whole case

Rhannion · 27/03/2022 14:52

It’s truly shameful behaviour from the police. If they screwed up the investigation & it was an accident then they must own up to it their mistakes and deal with the fall out and give some peace to Noah’s family If it was murder then it must be investigated and solved.