I've finished the podcast, and had a listen a to a couple of parts again.
We are investigating the investigation, fair enough Donal and probably needed in some aspects, those he has highlighted, dna, the bike. It does make sense that the psni should have bagged stuff properly or yes gone ahead and dna'd them so as to be able to say, yes all that was done, nothing found, rather than no we didn't bother.
1st thing people need to remember especially the army is that an investigation is still and has been ongoing all along, it a case of just waiting for court and to be honest it would have probably been to court and all if Fiona didn't keep intervening wanting more added in.
The most telling thing for me and he said it twice and is that once the day in court comes the psni is going to ambush the case with more evidence. This is not going to pan out well for Fiona, does it seem odd that they had cctv and more than likely more evidence that they haven't shared? Yes to us on tattle but maybe to them it's a normal part of an investigation that will all be heard in court at some point. And how can you talk to a mother who won't accept anything you say? So you leave it to a court.
Donal for me and the interviewer were fair and honest, so Noahs feet and knees were scratched and bloody, so he could have possibly crawled (Donal said) the water at one point was high and tidal. Its the family suggesting county lines no one else and again he was clear about that. He has discussed with Fiona the possibility of a mental health episode. Mentioned the book and the usual lockdown scenario, the high levels of suicide NI experiences.
I predict the outcome won't change, we may or may not hear what evidence the psni brought to court but Donal is clear it will be brought.
Yes transparency is needed and the investigator that worked on the Lawrence case said if you can't disclose something you tell the family you can't at present, could you imagine Fionas reaction to that, it certainly wouldn't be oh OK, I understand, it would be what is being hidden backed by an army.
If Donal shines a light on some shoddy shortcut police work that will be about the hight of it, the PSNI will apologise for their handling of certain things and Fiona will never accept anything bar murder and so it will go on.