Algen Donahue leads protest against shooting of his twin brother
The twin brother of the man who was shot by police following a four-hour siege on Saturday led a protest march at Mareeba after being released from police custody on Monday.
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The twin brother of the man who was shot by police following a four-hour siege on Saturday led a protest march at Mareeba after being released from police custody on Monday.
An angry crowd up to 300 strong laid siege to the Mareeba Court House, waiting on the release of Algen Donahue.
Police blocked traffic access to Hort St - the location of Mareeba’s courthouse and police station - while frustrated members of the Mareeba indigenous community chanted anti-police slogans and taunted officers tasked with keeping the peace.
Tensions which were on the verge of boiling over into full scale violence mellowed with the 11am release on bail of Algen Donahue, who had been held in police custody since Saturday.
Representing Mr Donahue in the Mareeba Magistrates Court, lawyer Garry Scott told the court if released on bail the 27-year-old would report to the police station three times a week and live with his mother Desley Ketchup.
“Your honour, my client is in sorry business and in a very, very fragile state,” he said.
Magistrate Tom Braes said he believed it unlikely a custodial sentence would be imposed if found guilty, given the charge.
Outside in the street the crowd converged on a door leading to the watch house and erupted in joy when Mr Donahue appeared after being granted bail.
Elated family members embraced Mr Donahue before he raised his son onto his shoulders and led a march down Mareeba’s main street.
The crowd waved signs that read “stop killing us” and “black lives matter” while slamming fists into road signs, throwing bottles, and spitting at the feet of police officers stationed along the route.
Mareeba police said generally the crowd was well-behaved, given the highly charged situation.
No violence was reported.
Outside court, Desley Ketchup, the mother of slain Aubrey Donahue, demanded justice and that the officer responsible be investigated.
“This is traumatising me,” she said.
“I want answers, just give me the answers. I want justice, that’s all I want.”
In 2018 the mother of six lost a son to suicide and lost her second son Aubrey on Saturday after a four-hour siege at a Love Street address.
Police say Mr Donahue was armed with a knife and advanced on the officers before he was shot on Saturday. They were initially called to the home at 11.30am on Saturday because a man was threatening self-harm.
They allege Mr Donahue was not allowing another occupant of the house, a woman, to leave.
When specialist officers entered the house at 3.30pm, they fatally shot Mr Donahue, with police alleging he was armed with a knife and advanced on the officers.
“They just took a young boy’s life, what do they expect us to do,” Ms Ketchup said.
“They are locking (Algen) up, that’s (Aubrey’s) twin brother, come on.”
According to uncle Adam Turner, Aubrey was close to his family.
“He was always watching out for his mum and they watched out for each other, the two brothers,” he said.
“Aubrey didn’t want to go to jail, I know that much.”
The Mareeba musician said the shooting could have been avoided if dealt with by officers that had a personal relationship with Mr Donahue.
“If it was the Mareeba police, it never would have happened because they know him,” he said.
“The TRG came up here from Brisbane and they don’t know anybody and probably don’t even know any blackfellas and they were probably s---ing themselves, because Aubrey is a big guy.”
Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin was relieved the release of Mr Donahue quelled the angry mob.
“We hope that the peace and quiet continues,” she said.
Mareeba business owners expressed concern about the threat of violence posed by the gathering of the angry crowd on Monday.
Mr Donahue’s sister said Algen was “all right” following his release and said the family would continue demonstrations.
“He’s all right, doing fine and what’s next for us is to keep fighting this and hope to protest more to get justice for Aubrey,” the 22-year-old from Mareeba said.
Police have promised a full and independent investigation into the shooting, which is being conducted by Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.
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