Noah Donohoe Inquest: Latest Updates from the North Belfast Hearing

The inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old St Malachy’s College pupil Noah Donohoe resumed this week, bringing fresh details to light for the North Belfast community. Noah was discovered in a storm drain in June 2020, six days after he went missing while cycling to meet friends in the Cavehill area. The current proceedings are examining the events surrounding his disappearance and the initial police response in the Northwood Road area.

On Monday, the hearing heard from Constable Wilson, one of the first officers on the scene from Tennent Street station. He told the court he was not aware at the time that the case was classified as a high-risk missing persons inquiry. The officer described finding Noah’s trainers and a jumper, which were placed in evidence bags to protect them from changing weather conditions. However, the court heard that these bags were not forensically sealed at the time, with the officer stating his priority was to keep the items secure.

Legal representatives for the Donohoe family questioned the officer on the documentation of the investigation, including why certain details, such as a conversation with a local resident who saw Noah, were not recorded in his official notebook. The officer noted that he had checked the police log before attending but that it only provided brief details of the call. The inquest also heard from witness Conor McConnell, who recalled seeing a teenager cycling on the day Noah disappeared and described seeing clothing neatly placed on the footpath nearby.

There remains a dispute regarding the timeline of communication between witnesses and the police. Mr. McConnell testified that he believed he contacted the authorities earlier than the official police logs suggest, expressing frustration that his attempts to provide information were initially met with a dismissive response. As the inquest continues, the thoughts of the entire North Belfast community remain with the Donohoe family. The proceedings are scheduled to continue on Tuesday.