https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/psni-statement-after-allegations-involving-31143859

The PSNI has denied allegations that police broke into the car of a journalist investigating the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe.

At Thursday's Northern Ireland Policing Board meeting, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher responded to recent public commentary about allegations against the PSNI involving journalist Donal McIntyre.

When asked about the reports by Policing Board Member Gerry Kelly, the Chief Constable said he was "conscious of the ongoing McCullough review and that wider proceedings might result from the recent speculation and commentary".

"However, given the potential adverse impact on public confidence in policing it is only right that I set out the position regarding these matters as I understand them," the Chief Constable added.

"On the 3rd July 2023 the Attorney General issued a public advisory note which reminded editors, broadcasters, publishers and social media users that the inquest proceedings in respect of Noah Donohoe were currently active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Everyone will recall the huge speculation and endless conspiracy theories being promoted on-line at that time.

"Following discussions in August 2023 between PSNI and the NI Court Service, the PSNI collated material from public-facing online publications on X, formerly known as Twitter, linked to two accounts. All these communications would have been publicly accessible but I accept the publisher of the posts would not be aware that PSNI had viewed and captured the publications.

"No confidential journalistic material was viewed or recorded. Suggestions that police broke into Mr McIntyre’s car are completely wrong."

The Chief Constable confirmed that the material was shared with the the Attorney General on October 29, 2023, "in line with the Attorney General’s advisory note". He also stated that "no other force or agency were directed or requested by the PSNI to take any steps".

He continued: "To summarise: this issue amounts to police monitoring two open source, publicly available Twitter / X accounts in order to protect the legal integrity of the coronial proceedings in the Noah case.

"As soon as I became aware of this matter on 28th February 2025 I ensured that this information was passed to Angus McCullough KC, to ensure that it would be considered as part of his ongoing review. This allegation is clearly within his remit, and I am confident that in due course he will give his findings in relation to it when he reports.

"I believe it is vitally important that Mr McCullough be given the time to conduct his work and independently look into this matter. I will of course be carefully considering his findings and recommendations, including in respect of this matter when they become available.

"To reassure those who have commented that the final McCullough report from the review will not be made public or that it will be redacted, I want to reassure you that this will not be the case. The McCullough findings report will be published. That is enshrined in the terms of reference, which refer to the maximising the openness and transparency of the review’s findings as far as possible.

"Mr McCullough has publicly reiterated his determination that his findings and recommendations should be as open as possible and I am committed to supporting him in that.

"Further speculation about the results of the review will achieve nothing at this stage and I urge people to await the findings."

by MarkHammond64

7 comments

  1. >Suggestions that police broke into Mr McIntyre’s car are completely wrong.

    Oh, so it’ll be MI5 or 14th Int then

    >no other force or agency were directed or requested by the PSNI to take any steps

    Oh, my bad. You contracted freelancers.

  2. Surprised they didn’t buck their way in till the car, PSNI caught bucking, here’s me whattttttttttttttttt

  3. Where did the allegation of the car break in come from. It wasn’t addressed in the article? Strange that they are correcting an allegation without referencing the source of it? Was it Donal who alleged this or someone online? As there is a massive difference in weight I would apply to each case.

  5. What happened to the £150,000 he was raising to make a documentary? 

  6. # Noah Donohoe was murdered and there has yet to be a proper investigation. It stinks of a cover up

    However, WTF was Donal McIntyre thinking by leaving sensitive documents, cash and Jewelry lying around in his car while he flew out of Heathrow? There’s also the fund raising that has resulted in nothing to date apart from a conspiracy with DONAL being at the center of it

    The phrase “Working both sides of the street” comes to mind

  7. How many fuck ups and incidences of suspicious behaviour from the PSNI does there need to be in relation to this specific case before smarmy cunts making fun about people’s legitimate concerns about it all shut the fuck up?

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