A SINN Féin MLA has described the signing of a Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate by the new Northern Ireland Secretary into the Noah Donohoe case as "deeply concerning".
The certificate would cover what the PSNI described as a "limited amount" of material in three police evidence folders, preventing certain information being disclosed to the inquest not Noah's death.
Noah’s naked body was found in a Belfast storm drain, six days after being reported missing in June 2020.
The North Belfast MLA also called on the PSNI to withdraw the application for the PII to give "truth and transparency" to the Donohoe family.
“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," 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.
"Public Interest Immunity certificates (PII) are used to conceal information. They were and are extensively used to hold back information in conflict legacy cases."
He said the inquest about is about the death of a 14-year-old child, and is "not conflict related."
“We will continue to stand with the Donohoe family in their campaign for truth, transparency and accountability," he finished.
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane similarly said the granting of the PII "is deeply concerning & shameful."
The decision of the British Secretary of State to approve a PII certificate to hide information relating to Noah Donohoe’s death is deeply concerning & shameful.
We will continue to stand with Fiona Donohoe & her family in their campaign for truth & justice.— John Finucane MP (@johnfinucane) July 28, 2022
