Key Evidence Heard as North Belfast Resident Testifies at Noah Donohoe Inquest

The inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe continued this week at Laganside Court, hearing crucial testimony from residents in the North Belfast area where Noah was last seen.

Karen Crooks, a resident of Northwood Road, was the first witness to take the stand. Her statement, made to police on July 1, 2020, detailed the discovery of Noah’s bicycle. Ms. Crooks stated that on the evening of June 21st, 2020, around 6:30 pm, she looked out her bedroom window after hearing voices and noticed a bike lying on the road behind her car, which she found unusual. When she returned home later, between 7:45 pm and 8:00 pm, the bike was still there, so she moved it and leaned it against a wall. The next day, after returning from work at 5:00 pm, the bike remained untouched. She took a photograph with the intention of posting it on social media. As she prepared to do so, she saw the missing person report for Noah and immediately realised the bike matched the description, leading her to contact the police. The court heard that Ms. Crooks found the bike approximately 30 minutes after Noah is believed to have left it.

Ms. Crooks also provided details about the area behind her home, confirming she was aware of the streams and the 'storm drain' (which the hearing clarified is a culvert with a debris screen) located behind a nearby property. She noted that police were frequently around the area of the culvert in the days following Noah’s disappearance. While she did not have access to the culvert itself, she stated that the gate at the side of her house, which led towards the stream, had a bolt and could be accessed easily. It was also noted that while a number of properties had access to the 'waste ground' where the culvert was located, someone would generally have to 'trespass' through these properties to reach the area due to a surrounding metal fence.

The discussion turned to the security of the culvert's access points. Ms. Crooks was asked if she was aware that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) checked the debris screen weekly. She stated she believed the access hatch on the screen had a lock but confirmed she wasn't certain, as she hadn't been near it in years. Counsel for DfI questioned whether she was aware the hatch might need to remain unlocked in case someone was 'washed through' the debris screen. Further testimony included a transcript of a BBC interview Ms. Crooks had given, where she described the culvert and said she initially thought the grate would prevent a child from passing through. However, her five-year-old son had informed her that he was able to fit through the grate.

Earlier in the week, the inquest heard from other witnesses who saw Noah on the day he disappeared. This included driver Amanda Seenan, who saw Noah fall from his bike on North Queen Street. Ms. Seenan expressed concern that a previous statement she gave led police to form a theory that Noah had suffered a head injury during the fall, clarifying to the inquest that she had never told police she thought he was injured. Other witnesses reported seeing Noah cycling past their homes, with one, Beryl Smith, observing him seemingly removing his helmet on Northwood Crescent, while another, Krzysztof Kozakiewicz, saw the teenager without a top on Northwood Road.