THE family of Noah Donohoe yesterday held a "frank and constructive" meeting with Chief Constable Simon Byrne about the case.
It was the first time Fiona Donohoe, whose14-year-old son Noah was found in a storm drain in north Belfast last June, and her sister, Niamh, spoke directly with the PSNI's most senior officer.
The two women were accompanied during the Zoom call by solicitor, Niall Murphy.
During the meeting, which lasted an hour and 25 minutes, the Donohoe family said they "conveyed our frustrations and concerns" about Noah's case.
The St Malachy’s College pupil disappeared after leaving his home in the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast on his bike on Sunday June 21 last year.
He was making his way to Cave Hill Country Park to meet friends but never arrived.
CCTV recorded the teenager on his bike, wearing a helmet, in the Northwood Road area of north Belfast between 6.03pm and 6.11pm.
Noah was reportedly seen cycling naked and police had initially said he may have fallen from his bike and possibly sustained a head injury, causing him to behave out of character.
Hundreds of people later took to the streets to help search for the missing teenager.
On June 27, Noah’s 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 are continuing.
The full inquest is set to be heard at Belfast Coroner’s Court on January 10 2022.
Fiona Donohoe later said she had "so many issues" regarding the case, the search and the police strategy.
Following yesterday's meeting, in a statement, the Donohoe family said Mr Byrne and senior detective John McVea had "listened earnestly".
"We had a frank and constructive meeting for an hour and 25 minutes, wherein we conveyed our frustrations and concerns.
"We feel the chief constable and senior detective John McVea listened earnestly and he has undertaken to return to us in writing".
The family said they are "hopeful for a more positive relationship going forward and look forward to receiving clarification on the issues raised.
"We are assured that the door remains open for future engagement".
In a statement after the meeting a PSNI spokesman said: "During the meeting the chief constable listened carefully to their concerns. Speaking as a father, he also expressed his deep and sincere sympathy with the family for the unimaginable pain of their loss.”
As the case is subject to a Coronial investigation police have said they are unable to comment further.
