Mother of Aubrey Donohue speaks after 30 allegedly target police vehicles at Mareeba

The mother of an Indigenous man shot and killed by police has called for peace in the wake of a roughly 30-strong group allegedly confronting officers, damaging vehicles, and attempting to obstruct the arrest of the late man’s brother.

Delsey Ketchup mother of Aubrey and Algen Donohue

The mother of an Indigenous man shot and killed by police in March has called for peace in the wake of a roughly 30-strong group allegedly confronting officers, damaging vehicles, and attempting to obstruct the arrest of the late man’s brother.

Aubrey Donahue was shot by police following a four-hour siege at a home in Mareeba, 60 kilometres west of Cairns, on March 25.

Footage this week revealed an angry mob taking to the street and throwing rocks at police vehicles, in reaction to Algen Donahue — Aubrey’s twin brother — being arrested on Sunday, November 26.

Aubrey Donahue (right) was fatally shot by police in Mareeba on March 25, 2023. His twin brother Algen Donahue is pictured on the left. Picture: Supplied

Delsey Ketchup, the mother of Aubrey, said she wants Mareeba’s Aboriginal community and Queensland Police “to work together”.

“We need to work together as a community. Not against each other. How are we going to solve anything if we are always fighting each other?” Ms Ketchup said.

“If the police are not going to work with the elders in the community it is not going to work. “All I want is peace. We are not that different to each other. We are all just people, we are all human.”

Police allege at 2.30pm on November 26, a large group tried to obstruct the arrest of 27-year-old Algen, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence), during which multiple vehicles were damaged and an officer providing crowd management was struck in the face.

Twelve people have been charged over the alleged violence.

Desley Ketchup says she wants both justice and peace in her community.

Ms Ketchup said the shooting was always on her mind, and she still wanted justice over Aubrey’s death.

“I can’t sleep much, it’s stressful for me. I feel so tired all the time.”

Police maintain that they were called to a domestic violence and hostage situation on March 25 that led to the siege.

They say Aubrey pulled a knife on them before they shot him.

The family maintains, however, that he was threatening self-harm and the police were only responding to a mental health call-out.

They say Aubrey did not pull a knife on the police.

Ms Ketchup says she doesn’t believe the police version of events.

Ms Ketchup has questioned why the police didn’t call her during the siege to calm him down. She also said she believes that an open window provided an opportunity for the police to use tasers.

“We need to get justice for him. And I think justice will also happen when we finally come together,” Ms Ketchup said.

Audrey Donohue's grave has been vandalised and all the flowers which covered it have been removed and tossed aside.

In a shocking blow for the family, Aubrey’s grave has also been vandalised in the past fortnight.

“I got a phone call from Algen’s ex-girlfriend, she had visited and somebody had knocked over all the flowers and pulled the cross out of the ground. It made me cry. I rang the police,” she said.

Ms Ketchup said several lamps and a vase at the gravesite had also been kicked over and all the flower wreaths had been taken off the grave.

“I cannot believe someone would do that. I just hope whoever did it gets caught,” she said.

While Ms Ketchup says the stress of the situation is often unbearable, she still finds solace in her family.

“I still have my son, my daughters and my grandkids, they are getting me through. But really I just want peace. I just want peace for the community,” she said.

Originally published as Mother of Aubrey Donohue speaks after 30 allegedly target police vehicles at Mareeba