IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM FIONA & NIAMH THIS EVENING - PLEASE SEE ATTACHED IMAGES:
As we already knew, at short notice this week and without any explanation, the coroner decided to livestream tomorrow's hearing instead of Fiona, Niamh and their legal team attending the court in person. The coroner has now, at such very short notice today, cancelled the hearing tomorrow. The reason given is that his JUNIOR counsel is unable to attend. Please note that the JUNIOR barrister does not always attend preliminary hearings and it is the senior counsel who speaks on the coroner's behalf. We can come to our own conclusions about why the coroner has now chosen not to go ahead tomorrow at all, as he surely could have done. However a number of important issues have been conveyed to Fiona and Niamh today during a consultation with their legal team, which throw more light on why the coroner seeks to avoid addressing them tomorrow. An urgent rescheduling before the summer recess has been requested, but as yet they do not know when that will be.
There has been a refusal to release Legal Aid funds for the family's own expert witnesses for Noah. Expert witnesses are essential and the coroner has already instructed his own expert witnesses.
This has all obviously devastated Fiona and Niamh, after an already traumatic week including anniversaries for Noah, and having to mentally prepare for tomorrow. But they are the strongest of mothers and women, and they are fighting for their beloved and beautiful Noah. Especially with our support, they will not be beaten.
Fiona and Niamh ask that the peaceful show of support at Langanside Courts, Belfast at 2pm tomorrow still goes ahead. Please attend if you can. 💙