Partner of man shot by police removed from Mareeba

A young woman held against her will at a Mareeba house has been supported out of the community following the shooting of Aubrey Donahue by police at the weekend.

A young woman held against her will at a Mareeba house has been “supported out of the community” following the shooting of Aubrey Donahue by police at the weekend.

Police negotiators were called to a Love St property on Saturday afternoon following reports Mr Donahue had threatened self-harm.

Police have alleged Mr Donahue advanced on specialist officers while armed with a knife before being shot dead.

Detectives remained at the house on Tuesday collecting evidence that will be considered by the police Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner.

The investigation is also subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The partner of Aubrey Donahue has been removed from the Mareeba community by police. Picture: Facebook

The young Mareeba woman is understood to be the partner of the late Mr Donahue.

Many connected to the shooting in Mareeba believed the woman was in protective custody. Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan confirmed the young woman had been removed from the town but stated “protective custody” was not the correct term.

“She has been supported out of the community,” he said.

Algen Donahue leads a march through the streets of Mareeba after his twin brother was shot dead on Saturday. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Following a public outpouring of anger at protests that took over the Mareeba CBD on Monday, the Tablelands town appeared on the surface to have returned to normal on Tuesday, but community leaders are concerned about further unrest and have organised another public meeting at the Aboriginal and Islander Christian Fellowship church on Thursday.

On Monday the town was on the precipice of full scale civil unrest before brother of shooting victim Algen Donahue was released on bail, after being locked up in the Mareeba watch house since his brother was shot dead on Saturday.

A mobile police unit stationed, on Tuesday, at the scene of a police shooting that claimed the life of Mareeba man Aubrey Donahue on March 24, 2023. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Racial tensions are running high at the Tablelands town.

While it is not suggested the two are linked, there has also been an escalation of crime incidents that business owners woke to on Tuesday morning.

Local glaziers have been rushed off their feet and were seen replacing glass panels at the Mareeba Leagues Club on Tuesday.

Indigenous protesters march through the streets of Mareeba in response to Aubrey Donahue being shot by police on Saturday, March 25. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Plywood boards have been erected at the Cellarbrations bottle shop on Byrnes St after thieves smashed two sets of windows before making off with liquor on Monday night.

Mareeba business owner Kevin Dunn, who had his Byrnes St business torched by two 12-year-old girls in 2021, has re-established his Yamaha dealership across the road from the Mareeba police station on Hort St.

He claimed to be unfazed by tension in the community, but acknowledged a developing crisis in Mareeba.

Aubrey Donahue was fatally shot by police in Mareeba on Saturday after allegedly approaching specialist officers armed with a knife.

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Originally published as Partner of man shot by police removed from Mareeba