Noah Donohoe case 'riddled with Institutional Defensiveness'

Following her attendance at the conclusion of Noah Donohoe’s inquest yesterday (Tuesday), Aontú Deputy Leader and East Derry representative, Gemma Brolly stated: "Today marks a critical conclusion in the fight for truth and accountability, but it leaves us with a profound sense of institutional failure.

“The jury found DfI failures as well as 13 PSNI failures in the investigation. Due to those failures contributing to the lack of evidence, Coroner Mr Justice Rooney specifically instructed the jury that they were not permitted to find any third-party involvement in Noah's disappearance and death, that Noah was assaulted by anyone, that Noah died by suicide, that Noah was under the influence of drugs at the time of his disappearance, that Noah had suffered a psychotic episode, or that Noah was the victim of child exploitation."

The Aontú deputy leader continued: "Had the PSNI carried out an investigation fit for purpose minus 13 failures it is very likely there would have been sufficient evidence to find answers and offer Noah's mother some peace. The PSNI must answer for this. We will not rest. Noah's Army fight on."

Fiona Donohoe expressed the heartbreak and reality of this outcome best: "Noah was my greatest gift in life. I miss him every minute of every day. He should still be here with me, following his dreams and planning for the future. I came to this Inquest seeking answers – and I leave it with one clear answer – Noah was failed: He was failed by the Dept for Infrastructure, who left a deadly storm drain unsecured and accessible to children; He was failed by the PSNI who, from the moment I reported him missing, repeatedly failed to investigate and from the moment he was found, stopped looking for answers. Instead, to deflect from their own failings, the DfI and PSNI have sought to blame Noah. This inquest has exposed a culture of institutional defensiveness that goes to the heart of these public bodies, coupled with a reckless disinterest in investigating what happened to my son. I will never understand why and can never accept that Noah’s death did not merit a full and fearless investigation. Answers of 'I Don’t know' and 'I can’t recall' permeated the evidence heard at this inquest. It is easy to say you don’t know, when you failed to find out. It is easy to say you can’t recall, when you haven’t secured and preserved the evidence capable of providing answers. The jury’s verdict lays bare that the evidence they have heard reveals an inventory of clear and repeated failings on the part of the PSNI and DfI. Noah deserved better."

Niall Murphy, of KRW Lawyers, added: "Fiona Donohoe has suffered indignity after indignity since Noah’s disappearance and death six years ago, most often at the hands of those who she trusted to bring her son home and those who carried a duty to give her answers. Throughout this inquest, Fiona has sat stoic in the courtroom, listening to the most traumatic of evidence and witnessing repeated attempts by the DFI and PSNI to defend their respective positions. Their highhanded conduct serves only to humiliate and retraumatise. It would break most people. In the face of such indignity, Fiona’s resilience and perseverance, and her steadfastness in the fight for answers for her son, cannot be understated. It should be a basic minimum that the DFI prevent access, by children, to deadly culverts in residential areas. It should be a basic minimum that when a child goes missing the PSNI do all in their power to find out what happened to him. When a missing child dies, it cries out for an explanation. It is an affront to public justice that a grieving mother has had to fight for years for answers, that a grieving mother has had to fight to expose the many and repeated failings in the police investigation. Let us be clear, the jury’s findings of repeated failings are as a result of a tireless pursuit for information from Fiona Donohoe. It is completely wrong that a mother has had to investigate her own son’s disappearance and death. If left to the PSNI and DFI alone, we would have no answers at all."

Ms Brolly concluded: "Our hearts remain entirely with Fiona, and we stand in endless awe of the remarkable strength and dignity she has shown throughout this harrowing journey. Noah’s Army is steadfast in our commitment to walk by her side, and as we pledge to never stop fighting for true accountability, we vow that our pursuit of justice will continue unabated.”