Safety Concerns Highlighted at Noah Donohoe Inquest

The inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has entered its 13th week, with the jury hearing significant testimony regarding the safety of the culvert in North Belfast. Noah, a well-known pupil at St Malachy’s College, was found in June 2020 after a widespread community search, and the ongoing proceedings are being closely followed by many across our local area.

Risk assessment expert Dr. Mark Cooper told the Belfast Coroner’s Court that he is 'quite certain' there was a public safety issue at the entrance to the water tunnel. Dr. Cooper explained that had he visited the site before 2020, he would have been alert to the potential dangers. He pointed specifically to photographs showing an adult able to walk through the screens at the entrance, stating that such a sight would have caused him concern for public safety regardless of any prior knowledge of the case.

During the proceedings, civil engineer Brian Pope also provided evidence alongside Dr. Cooper. Both experts were questioned by a barrister for the Department for Infrastructure (DFI) regarding the potential for 'hindsight bias'—the idea that the site only seems dangerous because a tragedy has already occurred. Mr. Pope informed the court that while he was acutely aware of the risk of bias, he had carefully considered various scenarios to maintain an objective view of the layout and access points.

The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of the young North Belfast teenager, who disappeared on June 21, 2020, while on his way to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A postmortem previously determined the likely cause of death was drowning. As the community continues to stand with the Donohoe family, the evidence provided by these experts marks a critical point in understanding the accessibility and safety of the Linear Park site.