The community of North Belfast continues to follow developments regarding the inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe. Noah, a St Malachy’s College pupil, went missing in June 2020 before his body was tragically discovered in a storm drain six days later.
After several years of necessary delays, Coroner Mr Justice Rooney has firmly stated that the delayed inquest must and will proceed on its rescheduled start date of January 19th. Justice Rooney met with legal representatives at Belfast’s Royal Courts of Justice recently for a review hearing, stressing that he does not want to encounter any fresh “obstacles” ahead of the substantive hearing, which will be heard by a jury.
“I don’t want any obstacles, this inquest must go on,” the coroner confirmed. “I want to assure everyone that we are and will be ready for the commencement of the inquest.”
During the review, several crucial pre-inquest matters were addressed. Notably, a lawyer representing the PSNI was instructed to seek clarification from commanders regarding a piece of body-worn video. This footage, featuring an officer speaking to an individual linked to the case, was reported as being unavailable to view due to “operator error,” and the court requires an explanation.
The hearing also considered a request from Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe. Ms Donohoe asked that she be accompanied by her solicitor when she is interviewed by an expert psychiatrist commissioned by the coroner. While the request was initially described as “abnormal” for such discussions, Justice Rooney approved the request, accepting Ms Donohoe’s argument that she required her solicitor present for “moral support.”
Ms Donohoe continues to hope the coroner’s case will finally provide answers to the outstanding questions surrounding her son's death. Legal representatives are scheduled to meet several times in the first half of January to focus on resolving all remaining matters, ensuring the timetable remains strictly on track for the January 19th start date.