Gerry Kelly accuses NI Secretary of State Shailesh Vara of helping police 'cover up' Noah Donohoe's death

.    Noah Donohoe, 14, was found dead           and naked in a storm drain in north           Belfast in June 2020, six days after             he went missing. 

                     July 28th, 2022. 

The North of Ireland’s new Secretary of State has been accused of helping police “conceal” information about the death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe.

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said it is “deeply concerning” that one of Shailesh Vara’s first acts since taking office was signing off a Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate.

A copy of the letter sent by Sinn Féin First Minister-Designate Michelle O’Neill to British Secretary of State Shailesh Vara. 

The certificate would cover what the PSNI described as a "limited amount" of material in three police evidence folders.

Policing Board member Mr Kelly is calling on the PSNI/RUC to withdraw the application provide full transparency about its probe into what happened to the 14-year-old.

Noah’s naked body was found in a Belfast storm drain, six days after being reported missing in June 2020. It raised questions around the initial police operation.

“One of the first actions of the new British Secretary of State, who has only been office for a number of weeks is signing off an application for the PSNI to conceal information related to the Noah Donohoe case,” Mr Kelly said.

“This is deeply concerning and I am again calling on the PSNI to withdraw this application, because the Donohoe family deserve answers, not secrecy and cover up.”

   MLA and Policing Board member Gerry                               Kelly 

The north Belfast representative said the PII certificates have only one purpose.

“They were and are extensively used to hold back information in conflict legacy cases,” Mr Kelly added.

“This inquest is about the death of a 14-year-old child.

“It is not conflict related.

“We will continue to stand with the Donohoe family in their campaign for truth, transparency and accountability.”

       Release The Noah Donohoe Files 

At a pre-inquest review hearing before coroner Joe McCrisken late last year, a lawyer representing the police insisted a PII application is not an unusual occurrence and is a common feature of many inquests.

The inquest is scheduled to begin on November 28. 

Donal Lunny QC said police would likely be seeking PII on a “limited amount” of material in three police evidence folders.

“It is important to remember that PII applications are a not infrequent occurrence in inquests of all types, and they occur for various reasons, including most commonly to protect police methodology,” he told Mr McCrisken.

In a statement on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland submitted an application for Public Interest Immunity (PII) to the Secretary of State in June 2022.

“As always, the Coroner will continue to have full sight of all material in this case and he will have the final decision on PII.”

The Northern Ireland Office has been asked for a response to the comments. 

With many thanks to the: Belfast Telegraph and Brett Campbell for the original publication. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: SHAME ON YOU - British Secretary of State signs PII to withhold information into the suspicious death of Noah Donohoe

NI Secretary Shailesh Vara backs Rishi Sunak in leadership race

Gerry Kelly accuses NI Secretary Shailesh Vara of helping police 'cover-up' Noah Donohoe's death