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?

Inquest begins and jury selection is under way. Please read the coroner's comments in bold towards the end of this post and think very carefully before posting.

Update from The Noah Donahoe Independent Investigation
Dear Supporters
The inquest is about to start into the circumstances around Noah's death. This inquest is asking how, when and where Noah died - our investigation covers more ground but with your support we have supplied multiple reports, interviews and video material to the Inquest. Our multiple submissions challenge the PSNI's investigation in a number of key areas and raise some upsetting concerns that the Inquest will interrogate. We submitted our final material to the coroner last week and you will hear throughout the PSNI and others contest our evidence. While I am not there to defend it as part of the process I am confident that it will stand up to scrutiny and that our book, film and other content will demonstrate its full value in due course.
While I have offered my services as a witness it has not been taken up but doubtless the coroner and the parties with representation including counsel for Fiona and the Noah's family will use our evidence to assist the jury in their adjudications.
As soon as the inquest is finished we will deliver our book, film and other media materials to you and the public. Thereafter and it will be some weeks after the team will pass onto the supporters the materials promised at the outset. The book for example needs a six week run up to the print run before publication and the film in the early stages of the edit will have to include all the material in the likely 10 week inquest period.
Please be patient as we will be following the inquest daily with daily updates on Instagram and on X - and here so you can keep apprised of developments. Remember the work that we have done and submitted to the inquest is only as a result of your funding - so where you see our name - know that you all have contributed to hold justice to power and accountability in check - to ensure that Noah get justice - and the investigation he deserves.
These are difficult times for Fiona and all Noah's family and there are in our thoughts and prayers over the weeks and months ahead.
Donal MacIntyre

Mr Justice Rooney, who is the coroner in the case stated last week, ahead of the Inquest starting today:
“I’ve been at pains to emphasise the importance and risks of social media posts about the inquest.
“Some PIPs (properly interested parties) have raised issues about recent social media posts, and they may … require to be explored in some more detail in due course.
“However it bears repeating that no-one, whether involved in the inquest, or in the general public, should engage in any social media activity which might prejudice the inquest process, particularly given the proximity of the inquest.
“The consequences of such activity could be serious, not only for the progress of the inquest, but also for any person engaged in inappropriate social media activity.”

Everyone, please keep Noah, Fiona and family in your thoughts, hearts and prayers, and please take heed of the coroner's highly important warning above.

Thank you.

Thoughts as always with Fiona, Noah and their wider family.
Praying that the truth will be set free and that Fiona can feel more at peace.

💙💙💙

prayers for Fiona, Noah and all his family and friends. I hope justice for Noah is coming soon. 🙏

BBC report from the inquest:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgl94rg7g1o

Please continue to keep Noah, Fiona and their wider family in your thoughts as the inquest into Noah’s death continues.
Praying that this will either bring the desperately needed answers for Fiona or open doors which will lead to the truth and justice for Noah.

Restrictions do still apply as to what can be reported but this is gradually being lifted as each day of evidence is being heard.
Link to the BBC reporting of the Inquest