Noah Donohoe Inquest: Key Updates from the Eleventh Week

The inquest into the heartbreaking death of local schoolboy Noah Donohoe returned to Belfast Coroner’s Court this week. Following the Easter break, the jury heard significant testimony as the proceedings entered their 11th week, focusing on expert analysis of the site where the 14-year-old was discovered.

Professor Carolyn Roberts, an expert witness commissioned by the Coroner’s Service, provided a detailed report after visiting the North Belfast storm drain. She concluded that it was likely Noah was alive when he entered the culvert, which runs beneath the M2 motorway and Seaview stadium toward Belfast Lough.

The court also heard from retired PSNI Inspector Menary, who led the hazardous environment search team. He discussed the challenges faced during the search in June 2020, noting that there were not enough officers to manage the large crowds that gathered in North Belfast. He mentioned that social media activity at the time encouraged people to congregate, some of whom were antagonistic toward the police on the scene.

Furthermore, the inquest was told that the specific search of the culvert did not begin until the morning of June 24. While the search team was on-site the previous day, only two personnel were available at that time. Inspector Menary, who spent 40 minutes inside the tunnel during the search, described the area as a "very hostile environment." The community continues to follow these proceedings closely as the inquest seeks to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding Noah's passing.