Noah Donohoe Inquest: Experts Raise Concerns Over Culvert Access Safety

The North Belfast community continues to follow the inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old St Malachy’s College pupil Noah Donohoe, as the proceedings enter their 15th week at Belfast Coroner’s Court. Recent testimony from safety experts has focused on the accessibility of the culvert where Noah was found in June 2020, six days after he went missing while cycling to meet friends.

Risk assessment expert Dr. Mark Cooper told the court that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) should have considered all “reasonably practical means” to prevent access to the water tunnel. He highlighted a lack of fencing at the rear of houses on Northwood Road, which provided a path to the stream. Dr. Cooper suggested that a thorough risk assessment prior to 2017 could have identified ways to deter people from entering the area, noting that the goal should have been to prevent entry into the stream and the culvert itself.

The inquest also examined refurbishment work carried out by the DfI in 2017, which included the installation of new access steps and a debris screen. Civil engineer Brian Pope noted that while these changes were intended to improve the site, the new steps may have unintentionally made the area “easier to access” for children compared to the previous steps, which were in poor condition.

A significant point of discussion involved the type of screen used at the culvert entrance. In 2020, the site was fitted with a debris screen rather than a more robust security screen. While experts noted that security screens are often considered a “last resort” because they can increase the risk of blockages and entrapment, Dr. Cooper suggested that a fuller consideration of safety issues might have swayed the decision toward a security screen to prevent entry.

As the inquest moves forward, these expert insights provide the community with a deeper understanding of the safety measures and infrastructure in place at the time of the tragedy. The search for answers continues as the court prepares to hear further evidence this week.