Northern Ireland

Noah Donohoe family brand Jamie Bryson comments 'deeply offensive and hurtful'

Niamh Donohoe, Noah's aunt, (left), Fiona Donohoe, Noah's mother, and their solicitor, Niall Murphy arrive for a pre-inquest hearing at the Coroner Court in Belfast on Wednesday. Picture by Hugh Russell
Niamh Donohoe, Noah's aunt, (left), Fiona Donohoe, Noah's mother, and their solicitor, Niall Murphy arrive for a pre-inquest hearing at the Coroner Court in Belfast on Wednesday. Picture by Hugh Russell Niamh Donohoe, Noah's aunt, (left), Fiona Donohoe, Noah's mother, and their solicitor, Niall Murphy arrive for a pre-inquest hearing at the Coroner Court in Belfast on Wednesday. Picture by Hugh Russell

NOAH Donohoe's family have spoken of their hurt at their supporters being labelled an "emotionally charged sectarian lynch mob".

The teenager's aunt Niamh Donohoe said comments made by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson were deeply offensive.

It comes as PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said police were confident that progress was being made in the investigation into the death of schoolboy.

Mr Bryson's comments related to scenes outside Belfast's Laganside Courts on Wednesday.

Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe and her sister, Niamh were present at the courts for a pre-inquest hearing.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, disappeared after leaving his home in the Ormeau Road area in the south of the city on June 21 last year.

He was making his way by bike to Cave Hill Country Park to meet friends and was seen on CCTV in north Belfast but never arrived.

Hundreds of people took to the streets to search for him.

On June 27, his body was found in a storm drain in the north of the city.

A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of drowning and last August coroner Joe McCrisken said investigations were continuing.

Since his death, Fiona and Niamh Donohoe have been seeking answers about what happened.

They have been supported on their journey by thousands of people, who are known as `Noah’s Army'.

A large crowd of gathered outside Belfast's Laganside Court on Wednesday to support the Donohoe family as they arrived.

On the same day, Mr Bryson was at Belfast High Court to hear Justice Colton's ruling concerning a judicial review of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Following the hearing, the applicants held a brief press conference outside the courts.

Mr Bryson accused Noah's Army of "hijacking" the press conference.

"I was at the court for protocol Judicial Review when an emotionally charged sectarian lynchmob surrounded a press conference being given by the applicants," he said.

"Absolutely appalling behaviour by Noah supporters hijacking a press conference screaming sectarian abuse."

Speaking to The Irish News last night, Niamh Donohoe said Mr Bryson's comments" were "deeply offensive and hurtful".

"We are so proud of Noah's Army, as they are made up of a community of respectful people from all backgrounds and identities, all of whom were present yesterday," she said.

"These people gather in support of justice for Noah and our family regardless of politics or religion.

"We are eternally grateful for this support and solidarity, which sustains us in the darkest hours of our lives."

Meanwhile, PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne has said police were confident that progress was being made.

A pre-inquest hearing at Belfast Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard that a fresh claim that he had been abducted and murdered was being investigated by the PSNI.

A Sunday newspaper reported the claim that a prisoner had come forward alleging his cellmate had confessed the murder to him.

Mr Byrne told the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday that he recognised the anguish that the teenager's mother Fiona was going through.

"We continue to support the coroner in that investigation and recognise the anguish that Fiona is going through," he said.

"I met her myself a few months ago to listen to some of her concerns and we're keen to remedy any of the issues that she is raising in gaps in the inquiry, but we're confident that we are making progress in the investigation."