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?

We are all very limited about what we can post as the Inquest hopefully nears. There is some permitted information here:

Noah Donohoe: Artificial Intelligence to be used in inquest - BBC News

That was the latest I could find too. I am wondering do the PSNI have to disclose all evidence at the hearing or are they still allowed to keep it under seal?

Some of it has been reclassified and can be disclosed. Unfortunately not the rest.

It is tied up by the Inquest process. Nothing can be released that could prejudice the jury.

This is the sort of level of detail the preliminary hearings are working through leading up to the Inquest for Noah. Again, this is permitted to report:
Noah Donohoe: Court told about hand photo on phone - BBC News

This gives a little more permissible information about where we are now, including about the photo of the hand on Noah's phone and the decision not to prosecute the Department of Infrastructure for corporate manslaughter.
Stormont department will not be prosecuted over death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe, court told | UTV | ITV News

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Update from The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation

New Development

Dear supporters
Many thanks as ever for your unwavering support on this campaign. Rest assured that we remain committed to the case although we are restricted by what we can say. You should know that I have provided the Coroner with a substantial statement on some important aspects of our investigation. This is being considered for inclusion by the coroner. We again, cannot say anything in relation to its contents and are abiding by the Attorney General's advice under threat of contempt of court.
We continue to revisit old leads and also open up new lines of enquiry.
Separately, there is another development imminent which will be reported. When it is - I shall update you further in so far as I can under the current legal restrictions.
Once again, many thanks for all your support - the work continues as we enter our fifth year on the investigation.
Donal MacIntyre

2nd update from The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation

Dear all,
As you all know the inquest has been constantly re-scheduled. (….) We remain ever grateful for your support but every day the inquest is delayed more information is coming forward so the delay is both a blessing and a frustration.
It is provisionally scheduled for before the summer but that is optimistic in my view. I will keep you updated. Meanwhile we continue to film and build upon all our good work which you all have made possible. We anticipate editing in some sequences from the inquest for the film to keep it up to date and we are confident that you will be pleased by the output of our hard work on your behalf. We simply couldn't do it without you.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email.
Many thanks again!
Donal MacIntyre
Investigative Journalist

Edited for relevance by the OP.

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3rd new update from The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation

PSNI 'SPYING' ON INVESTIGATION TEAM

Allegations that the PSNI spied on me and potentially Fiona Donohoe (Noah's mummy) as a consequence of our investigation (into Noah's death) are made today as calls are made for an inquiry into these shocking allegations.

It is hugely distressing to the family and it is notable that the PSNI have not denied the allegations.

Direct allegations were put to them by the Belfast Telegraph yesterday but the PSNI refused to deny the concerns which were brought to them by a whistle-blower in the PSNI. It is extraordinary the force would stoop so low in relation to Noah's death. No one is surprised by journalists being bugged by the PSNI but Noah's family and the journalists investigating the case - the question is WHY? We need to know exactly what happened and who authorised this.

I cannot think of a more distressing and appalling action by the PSNI and it is telling that it has made no attempt to deny the allegations which are currently being investigated by the McCullough Review (looking into their spying on journalists).

Please contact your political representatives and protest at this appalling vista. If the PSNI spied on me then it would have intercepted my communications with Fiona. How appalling is that! This casts a sinister spectre over the whole case.
This is a developing story. And I will update later today.
Donal MacIntyre
Investigative Journalist

Edited by the OP for clarity.

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The truth will eventually come out. Despite all the attempts to silence discussion, sideline it here, frighten people by following them, social media threats etc. It's just a matter of time now. Thank you OP for your constancy.

Bumping this thread in memory of Noah. Now 5 years on from his disappearance and death Fiona his mother still has more questions than answers.
Praying that the truth will come out and Justice be done so that Noah can finally Rest truly in peace.
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💙 RIP Noah.

RIP Noah
what is happening about the inquiry and documentary ? Such a massive cover up

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Update from The Independent Noah Donohoe Investigation
Five Years After Noah
Dear Supporters
You will know that we are constrained by the Courts from publishing any information that might compromise the adjudication of the inquest by a jury. This will take place as best we are aware in November later this year.
Rest assured though - we remain on the case, filming, writing, reviewing and interviewing: and most of all investigating Noah's tragic demise. It is now over five years since he lost his life and only the support of his mother Fiona and her family has kept his case in the spotlight. We are inspired by their dedication and determination to continue our work in Noah's name. This work has only been possible with your support and extraordinary donations. For that we are forever grateful. Our investigation is your investigation. I shall update you as best I can in due course but I have already presented a 12 thousand word statement to the Coroner for his consideration and the consideration of the Properly Interested Parties.

This is just one example of the work we have done and continue to do in your name and in Noah's memory..
Take care
Donal MacIntyre
Investigative Journalist

Bumping again. Please continue to keep Noah, Fiona and the rest of the family in your thoughts. This case has not gone away nor can we allow it to. Noah deserves the truth to come out. Noah deserved better.

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Praying for some form of closure soon 💙🩵💙🩵

Bumping this thread to say a Happy Heavenly 20th Birthday to Noah.

Please keep Fiona and the rest of the Donohoe Family in your thoughts today.
Praying that answers and truths will come out and Justice served so Noah can finally rest in peace.