Noah Donohoe: the latest news is very bad

[MNettersForNoahAndFiona]

Many Mumsnetters will have already seen and kindly supported my threads and those of others about the disappearance and death of young Noah Donohoe in Belfast in June 2020. For those who haven't, Noah's naked body was retrieved from a drain after he had been missing for 6 days. Two years later, his grieving mother Fiona, with her sister Niamh at her side, is still having to fight for the truth about her adored son's disappearance and death and for justice for him.

Yesterday, Fiona was given official notice by the government/NIO that a Public Interest Immunity Certificate has been granted. It was signed by the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire. This means that the police/PSNI are allowed to keep hundreds of pages of information from their botched investigation into the disappearance and death of this innocent and precious child secret. It was received by the police/PSNI and Crown Solicitors Office on the 19th July and his mother was not told for over a week.

Mr Vara was appointed after Brandon Lewis resigned from Boris Johnson's cabinet. He has only been in his post as NI Secretary for two weeks. This is not a good start. Signing the PII Certificate so swiftly indicates to me that he has not taken due time and care to learn all the facts in Noah's case. I think anyone who concludes from this that Mr Vara is just a government and police puppet could be forgiven.

For those Mumsnetters not in Northern Ireland who believe that PII Certificates don't concern you, a PII Certificate application from the police/PSNI protected Robert Howard, a known prolific and violent child killer and rapist. It allowed him to travel to England, Scotland and Ireland. He was only brought to justice when he raped and killed a child in Kent. This is only one example of many.

If you are not outraged, then you have not been paying attention. What can you do? Please think about this and do what you can. Please join us in raising awareness about Noah on social media, with your own government representatives and mainstream media. If you want to contact Shailesh Vara directly about Noah's case:
members.parliament.uk/member/1496/contact
Email at NIO: [email protected]
He is also on Twitter:
twitter.com/ShaileshVara

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, if you haven't already, do still join the 309,146 people who have showed they care by signing Fiona's petition. Link in the OP of this thread: 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?

Thank you sincerely for reading and for your support. 💙

TLDR:
As Marion Wright Edelman said, if we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much. Shame on you, Shailesh Vara. AIBU?

I am so pleased to be posting this latest figure, with 7 days still to go towards the target of £150,000:

£144,406!!!

With 96% achieved, I believe we are going to make it.

If you would like to donate any amount from £1 and/or share this appeal, please search on the UK website 'Crowdfunder' for 'The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund'. Thank you. 💙

Another post bringing very good news. 💙

The latest figure this morning is £148,500.

That's 99% of the £150,000 target with 7 days left.

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Well, we did it! 💙

Earlier today, we reached the target of £150,000 and the current figure tonight is an incredible £152,882!!! 💙

Well done and a huge thank you to all Mumsnetters who have supported this appeal with donations, messages and/or shares. It is sincerely appreciated, not just by Donal MacIntyre and the entire investigative team, but by Noah's mummy Fiona and Noah's family and friends.

With 6 days still to go on the Crowdfunder website, Donal has decided to set a stretch target of £250,000. This is what he says about why:
"We will use any extra funding to pursue unexplored lines of inquiry, to draw upon additional experts, and to commission further forensic reports on relevant items. These funds can also be used to complete a reconstruction of Noah's movements and to commission the specialist filming and reconstruction of a storm drain of similar proportions to that in which Noah was found. This will allow us to test a number of theories about how he entered the drain and traversed over 900m of dark and difficult terrain. Following this, we will use any further additional funds to raise the production values of the film and to ready it for international film festivals and broadcasts in the UK and Ireland."

Please do continue to support the appeal if you possibly can over the next 6 days, with donations, messages and/or shares. Thank you. 💙

Fantastic news @SolviturAmbulando 💙

This made me feel quite emotional. I have no connection at all to this story, but it's just so upsetting; it's good to know that something will be done.

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Thank you @hedgehoglurker @Lndnmummy @DuesToTheDirt @WaveyGodshawk 💙

Update:
Donal MacIntyre 4th August 2023
"One Day Left!
What an epic journey we've been on! This community centred around Noah and his family and the thousands who have kept his name and spirit in the forefront of our minds have delivered in record numbers to our campaign we've made our primary goal. We will be able to complete the investigation and deliver what you wanted, what the community needs and what justice requires - an independent investigation and the truth about what happened to Noah Donohoe. We are extremely grateful. Everything donated over the next 24 hours makes everything we do better. You've been inspiring and reinforced our trust in human nature. Let's see if we can make it to 110% of our goal. Well done and feel very proud of what you have achieved so far - a record breaking crowdfunding campaign for a cause such as this.
Incredible!
Donal "
Producer and Investigative Reporter

£163,810
109%
All donations gratefully received, however large or small, via the website 'Crowdfunder' for 'The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund' until Saturday, 5th August 2023 at 3.30pm. Thank you. 💙

Fiona and Niamh, we are with you and beautiful darling Noah! 🙏🫶🏼

£165,505
17 hours left
110%
All donations gratefully received, however large or small, via the Crowdfunder website for The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund until Saturday, 5th August 2023 at 3.30pm. Every pound helps. Thank you. 💙

Update:
"We're still collecting donations. On the 5th August 2023 we'd raised £167,158 in 49 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
People still donating but we made it and you did It!
We did it - Nearly 112% of our target. You have all contributed to a tremendous campaign - a community endeavour and one which has delivered for this cause. We are working hard as we speak to deliver on our promises to you and we are committed to giving Noah the investigation he deserves in his name and in the name of all future missing children. Donations are still coming in and I'll come back with a fuller update after the weekend but everyone who has donated and supported this campaign from a pound to £5000 - those who have donated numerous times, handed in donations from door to door collections, fundraisers and events - we are immensely grateful for all your good work and amazing donations.
In due course, all the rewards will be delivered when available and most importantly our investigation and the documentary will be available and made available to you all. You have inspired us all and we cannot wait to continue our work for you all , on your behalf and most of all for Noah and his family.
Donal MacIntyre
Producer and Investigative Reporter"

6th August 2023: £168,773 raised so far.
Please do donate if you can and/or share this appeal. It is on the 'Crowdfunder' website and for 'The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund'. Thank you. 💙

Talk about cutting it fine but I’ve just got online and made a donation. It’s something that has nothing to do with me but at the same time it’s something that is to do with us all (not sure if that makes sense). Best of luck and love to everyone involved. RIP Noah.

Update:

Donal MacIntyre
Investigative Reporter and Producer
7th August 2023
"We are still receiving donations!
The Crowdfunding organisation has continued to receive donations to the campaign for our stretch target because from their stats they can see that people are still visiting the page and are still keen to donate. You will know that the initial sum of £150k was to guarantee the completion of the film and the investigation. This has now been reached. Obviously, any extra funds will make it better and easier to hire experts and to do a range of tests and reconstructions that the PSNI have not done and the Coroner has not directed done. We feel these are important to include or exclude lines of inquiry. Thank you for continuing to believe in us. After this campaign on this site is over we'll continue to raise additional funds with fundraising dinners and other events and we will keep you posted. Details about the rewards and the timings will be released in due course but obviously centre around the completion of the project and its release after the inquest.
Many thanks for now and I look forward to keeping you all up to speed with more updates and developments in due course.
Donal"

8th August, 2023: £174,101 raised so far.
Please do donate if you can and/or share this appeal. It is on the 'Crowdfunder' website and for 'The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund'. Thank you. 💙

If you are not outraged, then you have not been paying attention.

eh?

I am sorry I really don't understand - this is a terrible tragedy, and I am really sorry this happened to this poor boy, but is there any reason to think he was murdered? And, there are thousands of children who go missing, and you are not paying attention to them! We are not obliged to do so.

That's lovely of you, @CrapBucket and as you will see from the update you are not alone. What you say makes perfect sense. This is something that matters to all decent people, irrespective of anything else, including location, religion or race. Donations, shares and messages of support are being received not just from NI, Ireland and the UK, but also from the rest of the world including from the USA and Australia. Thank you 💙

I am sorry I really don't understand - this is a terrible tragedy, and I am really sorry this happened to this poor boy, but is there any reason to think he was murdered?

Noah's poor mother hasn't had closure, the police investigation was shoddy, communication was poor. If Donal Macintyre, who I have a lot of time for, can bring any kind of peace for her, then it will be worth every penny.
I have no idea what happened - I know the timeline, I know the inconsistencies and the politics. I am also aware that Noah may have felt low, there were some theories from a book he was reading, and he had been out in the early hours the evening before (police only recently disclosed this afaik).
My point: if his Mum feels that this documentary brings her something then you'd have to be devoid of empathy to deprive her of that comfort or criticise the enterprise, especially if you haven't donated.

you didn't answer my question - is there any reason to think he was murdered?

Noah Donohoe: Man who 'hounded' schoolboy's mother sentenced - BBC News

This report, quite rightly, doesn't detail the worst of it and I won't detail it here. He has not been the only troll, to lesser or similar degrees, even on here as we know. He lives very close to where Noah disappeared and was found.

My point: if his Mum feels that this documentary brings her something then you'd have to be devoid of empathy to deprive her of that comfort or criticise the enterprise, especially if you haven't donated.
I agree @SequinsandStilettos . 💙

Although it is over three years since Noah died, the full Inquest - now to be held with a jury - will probably not take place until next year. You were therefore right not to respond to the specific repeated question by a pp at this stage of proceedings.

Help has been given by Noah's family, friends and supporters to the families of other missing children and their loved ones. The intention of the independent investigation is to look at and actively seek all the evidence possible to try to get to the truth about Noah's disappearance and death and the official investigation into that - not just for Noah, his loved ones and countless concerned members of the public, but for all future missing children.

Update:
Donations so far: £178,545

This includes a donation of £5,000 from The Hillsborough Justice Campaign. It is so inspiring to see veterans of the fight against institutional injustice getting behind Noah's cause.

All donations still welcome, however small, on the website Crowdfunder for The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation Fund.

Simon Byrne - PSNI Chief Constable - has resigned. It's a pity he didn't resign or wasn't sacked over the handling of young Noah Donohoe's disappearance and death, but I'm glad Byrne has gone at least and at last. He's not the only one who should resign or be sacked over the handling of Noah's case, of course, but one down and all that. 💙

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Bumping once again for Noah

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Praying for Fiona, Niamh and the Donohoe family

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