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The inquest into the death of South Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe, who was tragically found in a North Belfast storm drain in 2020, is scheduled to begin this Monday. The process, which has seen delays to ensure a 'full and fearless' investigation, aims to establish the precise circumstances of his passing. Residents are urged to remember the coroner’s strict warnings regarding public speculation during the proceedings.
2026/01/18
The long-anticipated inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe is set to commence on Monday. This crucial process aims to establish the full circumstances surrounding how the South Belfast teenager died.
Noah went missing in June 2020 while cycling from his home to meet friends. Following a six-day search that gripped the city, his body was tragically discovered in a storm drain in North Belfast.
The inquest has faced several delays, most recently following a request from Noah’s mother, Fiona, who sought additional time to ensure the proceedings would be ‘full and fearless’.
This will be a jury inquest, focused entirely on establishing when, where, and how Noah died. It is important to note that the inquest is not intended to attribute blame to any party.
Controversy has surrounded the case due to the granting of Public Interest Immunity (PII) Certificates to the PSNI. The use of these certificates means that some details related to Noah's death will be concealed from the public. This decision was made on the grounds that disclosing the redacted material would pose “a real risk of serious harm to the public interest.”
Ahead of the proceedings, the coroner previously released CCTV images that showed Noah’s movements the day before he disappeared, as well as footage showing the last time he was seen alive on Northwood Drive on June 21st.
Further preparatory work included a pre-inquest hearing last year where the light level inside the drain where Noah was found was assessed. Investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre has also assisted the proceedings by providing material to the coroner.
As the inquest begins, the coroner has issued a firm warning to all members of the public: there could be “potentially serious consequences” for anyone found speculating about the case on social media, as this could prejudice the formal inquest proceedings.