Fiona Donohoe, the bereaved mother of Noah Donohoe, the teen who was found dead in a Belfast storm drain in June 2020, has hit out as posters of her son on the Shore Road in North Belfast were defaced.
Donohoe said on April 23 that she will "find out who you are" after pictures were shared on Twitter that showed Noah's face was cut out of a "Justice for Noah" poster:
They did Not just rip our placards down for beautiful Noah they took time to cut Noah out of the picture...I will TAKE TIME TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE https://t.co/swnFnrOsir
— FIONA DONOHOE @fionadonohoe26@gmai @Niamhdonohoe78 (@FIONADONOHOE2) April 23, 2022
The following day, Donohoe shared more pictures of the posters being vandalized and said "my baby does not deserve this."
My baby does not deserve this.Beautiful Noah was one of the most giving and loving souls
— FIONA DONOHOE @fionadonohoe26@gmai @Niamhdonohoe78 (@FIONADONOHOE2) April 24, 2022
To get a ladder and then cut his face out. Is abhorrent..I have never used these kind of words in my life...Words like 'horrific'. Noah went missing.These words are normal now https://t.co/djqmXRzFXu
Donohoe has now confirmed in a tweet that police are looking into the matter and noted that the residents of Shore Road have been "amazing with their support."
In regards Noah's placards.
The police are now looking into thisI really do want to stress.The shore Rd residences have been so amazing with their support of #JusticeForNoahDonohoe.
— FIONA DONOHOE @fionadonohoe26@gmai @Niamhdonohoe78 (@FIONADONOHOE2) April 25, 2022
The minority will not stop our pursuit for truth for beautiful Noah pic.twitter.com/bQbWN59Gwd
Noah Donohoe, 14, was found dead in a Belfast storm drain on June 21, 2020, six days after he was reported missing. A post-mortem later said that Donohoe died as a result of drowning, a result which Andree Murphy, a spokesperson for the Donohoe family and member of Relatives for Justice, said "raises more questions than answers."
An inquest was set to begin in January 2022, but that has been delayed as the Donohoe family's legal team is facing "outstanding issues," including the disclosure of certain police documents.
Fiona Donohoe alleges in her online petition "Release the Noah Donohoe files," which has drawn more than 300k signatures in support, that "the police did not use all their resources in finding Noah."
A number of politicians across the political divide in Northern Ireland have spoken out after the recent vandalization of the "Justice for Noah" posters.
Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), said the vandalizations are "utterly unfathomable, pointless and hurtful."
I don’t know who, I don’t know why, I just know this is utterly unfathomable, pointless and hurtful. Just stop. https://t.co/1dO7dmdFs9
— Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) April 24, 2022
Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, said the vandalization is "sickening and a new low."
Vandalising Noah Donohoe posters is utterly sickening and a new low in this election. It needs to stop.
— Colum Eastwood ?? (@columeastwood) April 24, 2022
Nichola Mallon, Deputy Leader of the SDLP, said the actions are to be "totally condemned."
The vandalism of the Noah Donohoe posters is beyond sickening and to be totally condemned by everyone with any decency.
— Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) April 24, 2022
Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, said it was "despicable behaviour."
I cannot fathom why anyone would attack these posters and cause more distress to Noah's family. It's absolutely despicable behaviour. https://t.co/qec0hRcbK0
— Naomi Long #4EastBelfast (@naomi_long) April 24, 2022
Michelle O’Neill, the Vice President of Sinn Féin, said "we will stand with you every step of the way."
Your baby certainly does not deserve this. We will stand with you every step of the way for Justice for Noah. So let me restate you have the unequivocal political support of Sinn Féin in your campaign for truth and justice for Noah https://t.co/DVxJS6mWSE
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) April 24, 2022
Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said it was "dreadful."
This is dreadful. It takes an incredibly warped mindset to do this. The Donohoe family are in our thoughts. https://t.co/7EBvbuOSGF
— Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) April 24, 2022
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