Police officers 'shared images of person who died by suicide' - Warning: graphic descriptions

[MNettersForNoahAndFiona]

Warning: graphic descriptions follow, in BBC News article and BBC video interview with the family:

Two NI police officers have been investigated for more than three years over allegations they manipulated a person who died by suicide's body and shared photos and a video online.

One of the officers has been suspended with full pay while the Police Ombudsman investigates. It is part of a wider investigation encompassing 11 separate but related incidents spanning several years. There are multiple suspects, including police officers and civilians, in Northern Ireland as well as in England. The investigation is looking at a range of possible offences including misconduct, harassment and the suspected supply of drugs.

The allegations around the two Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers are harrowing. The police officers asked the family to leave the room. The victim's body was moved around the room and posed for photographs and a video. His trousers were taken down and his genitalia exposed for one of the photographs. The images were then photoshopped with speech bubbles mocking the victim, including using a derogatory term for his religion and shared.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62012268

The victim died in 2017 in Belfast. That is five years ago and still the police (PSNI) have not charged these sick and callous individuals. Only 30 hours of interviews have taken place in 5 years. When two disgraceful Met police officers similarly shared images of the bodies of murdered sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, they were quite rightly prosecuted and sent to prison - even by the Met.

The BBC recently broadcast interviews with two Police Service of Northern Ireland whistleblowers speaking publicly for the first time about serious allegations of misconduct and negligence within the PSNI:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0017yyn

Some Mumsnetters will have also seen my threads and those of others about the death and disappearance of young Noah Donohoe, also in Belfast, in 2020. After he had been missing for 6 days, Noah's naked body was retrieved from a drain. Two years later, his mother Fiona is still having to fight for the truth about her son's death and for justice for him. It is the same police force: the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and the same Chief Constable: Simon Byrne.
Here is a factual and reliable pinned Twitter thread for people new to Noah's story or wanting to know more:
mobile.twitter.com/MarymoBelfast/status/1370453351616425985
Here is Fiona's podcast:

Here is a Channel 4 News report: www.channel4.com/news/noah-donohoe-family-seek-answers-over-belfast-teenagers-death And please do sign Fiona's petition if you haven't already: www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard/4573833-noah-donohoe-his-mothers-fight-for-the-truth-and-justice-please-help-stop-the-police-coroner-and-brandon-lewis-from-keeping-investigation-files-into-the-death-of-a-child-secret-thread-3?

These are only three examples of many serious failings from the PSNI. Victims' families have lost trust in them. Decent, whistleblowing officers have lost trust in them. The Metropolitan Police have recently been put into special measures for their failings. AIBU to believe that the same must happen with the lazy, corrupt, incompetent, racist and bigoted PSNI?

💙 The Noah Donohoe Bridge 💙

Lagan Gateway bridge to be named after Noah Donohoe following Belfast City Council agreement
www.itv.com/news/utv/2022-09-01/lagan-gateway-bridge-to-be-named-after-noah-donohoe-following-council-agreement

From Fiona: 'A beautiful legacy...and so humbled for Noah as he would be...but Noah would still say NO deflection. Right now will not deflect from what is important.'
From Niamh: 'It is a huge honour for this bridge to be named after Noah. A positive way of ensuring his legacy lives on for many years. This bridge is symbolic of what we hope for Noah's Foundation in the future, a bridge for all the communities & people of Belfast to access & enjoy.'

Noah Donohoe: Enniskillen protest planned in support of schoolboy's family
"We want people to see that Fermanagh is supporting Noah's family just like many other counties across Northern Ireland."
www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/noah-donohoe-enniskillen-protest-planned-24885226

Enniskillen to stage protest for Noah Donohoe
fermanaghherald.com/2022/08/enniskillen-to-stage-protest-for-noah-donohoe/

Noah campaign needs support from ‘all of Fermanagh’
fermanaghherald.com/2022/08/noah-campaign-needs-support-from-all-of-fermanagh/

Update from Niamh Donohoe:
'On Thursday Fiona & myself will attend court for the long-awaited Preliminary Hearing. These court sessions deal with important issues leading up to Noah's Inquest. Submissions for a Jury-led Inquest will be thrashed out.

On days where we attend court, it may just be a "job" to the respected & learned legal professionals that debate alongside us in support & against. For us it's about LIFE. Noah's life, Fiona's life, our lives, our babies, the right to life, this is our lives. Noah's life was ended suddenly on the 21st of June 2020, that day changed our lives FOREVER. It's hard to look back & remember life before that & these days it's best not to as those days are unrecognisable to us now. We have come put up against horrendous abuse, threats, intimidation from people & reps in all walks of life.

Someday we will have our chance to tell the real story. For now, our hands are tied & we will always remain respectful for Noah's sake. The documentary process is ongoing & relentless also & final edit stage isn't far off.

Since our brother's death in August, we have taken time to breathe & gather ourselves. We are strong & well able to continue the #GoodFight✊ in Noah's name, sorry to disappoint those in authority if you thought we had tapped out😬. Onwards & upwards together #NoahsArmy⚡💙 . We're never tapping out. Just respecting the passing of our brother & gathering strength for the next battle. 👊👊👊👊👊'

Update from Niamh Donohoe:
'Today's Preliminary Hearing was firm & fair, & respect is due to all parties involved including Coroner Mr Joe McCrisken. Submissions put forward on Noah's behalf by Brenda Campbell QC leave no doubt that Noah is in the best hands possible. Jury decision due in 2 weeks.'

What really happened in and around this residential street - Northwood Road in Belfast - on Sunday, 21st June, 2020 and the six days after? A child was seen, running naked, distressed and exhausted. Think about what happened, what really happened, to that innocent child. Imagine that happening to you or to somebody you love. Look carefully at his grieving mother's face. Look very carefully. Examine your heart and your conscience. Break the silence. Please.

Update from Niamh Donohoe on the awaited Coroner's decision about a jury for Noah's inquest:

'We were assured that by close of business on Thursday we were to be informed of the long-awaited decision on a Jury Led or Coroner Led Inquest for Noah. That day has come and gone and true to form no communication has been directed to us on this important decision.

We turn up to court, we do what is asked of us in this process, we show respect when respect is due & we expect the same in return. Yet again a display of disdain and blatant disrespect not only for us but for beautiful Noah💙.It seems we are the only party that sticks to our word. There is no level playing field in this so we will continue to use everything at our disposal to ensure Noah gets the justice he deserves. BE NOAH'S VOICE, SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION!!!'

Update:
The coroner will today give his decision on whether or not a jury will be present for Noah's inquest later this month.

All supporters and media reporters welcome to attend:
Thursday 27th October 2022 at 3pm
Langanside Courts, Belfast

From Niamh Donohoe:
'We are reluctantly preparing ourselves for court (an ordeal in itself). No one will ever understand the toll these days take, on Fiona especially. At the moment we both feel battered and exhausted, we already feel defeated in our fight for a jury and fear the coroner has made his decision to refuse Noah's inquest this opportunity. We will not spend a minute longer than we have to in courts allowing Noah's life & memory to be decimated. We will give you your stage momentarily and then we are done listening to you. Over 2yrs we have given our whole lives to Noah's fight & have got nowhere. Fighting everyone to listen to us & to help.

On Fiona's birthday yesterday instead of celebrating we both cried down the phone because we feel so helpless against this corrupt system at times. However, one thing we both agree, my sister and I won't ever stop fighting for Noah💙 & our babies. Noah's death must be the catalyst for change; no family can ever be allowed to suffer like this again & a child's life can never be sacrificed at the altar of the peace process. Our beautiful boy's life mattered, all children's lives matter.

Noah's Army, we need you now more than ever...Be Noah's voice...shout his name.

I hope at court the right decision regarding a jury is delivered. I promise we will take to the streets in our thousands again & again until we get what Noah deserves & justice. We will bring Belfast to a standstill repeatedly until the truth comes out.

Sitting back waiting on this farcical legal process to evolve has got us nowhere.
We are Noah's voice; we will make noise. Noah will be heard, and the truth will come out.'

'WE HAVE BEEN ALLOWED A JURY FOR NOAH'S INQUEST. We are so grateful to Noah's legal team & the coroner. We went in defeated & have left grateful beyond words. Such an unexpected victory for Noah. Emotional, exhausted & feeling able to fight on knowing the right decision was made.'
Niamh Donohoe

Summary of Ruling:
www.judiciaryni.uk/sites/judiciary/files/decisions/Summary%20of%20Inquest.pdf

Noah's full inquest with a jury will be held next year, although another short preliminary hearing is scheduled for December.

Today is Noah's 17th Birthday. 💙

Please join us in remembering, celebrating and giving thanks for bright, beautiful and kind Noah today. If you can, do a good deed in honour of Noah, no matter what it is or how small.

The Noah Donohoe Foundation is run by The Community Foundation of Northern Ireland, carrying on Noah's beautiful legacy and keeping his spirit alive by helping other children from all communities across Northern Ireland. For example, 500 breakfasts for children have just been funded to help struggling families amid the cost-of-living crisis. In honour of Noah's birthday this year, individual grants totalling £16,000 are being awarded to schools and to music, sport and community groups for children and young people, following cross-community nominations. If you would like to support the work of The Noah Donohoe Foundation, you can do so via Just Giving. I'm not allowed to link to it, but to ensure any donations go to the right place, if you add /campaign/noahdonohoefoundation after justgiving then you should find it ok.

If you are on Twitter and other social media, in future please use the hashtags #JusticeForNoahDonohoe #TheNoahDonohoeFoundation and #NoahsArmy.

Thank you. 💙

Thinking of Noah, his mummy Fiona, his auntie Niamh and all his family and friends today. 💙