An inquest has formally commenced into the mysterious and tragic death of Noah Donohoe, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Belfast, whose disappearance in June 2020 ended in a heartbreaking discovery that has left Northern Ireland seeking answers for over six years.
Opening Statements at Belfast Coroner's Court
On Thursday, opening statements at Belfast coroner's court marked the start of a judicial process aimed at unraveling the events that led to Noah's untimely demise. The teenager left his home on 21 June 2020 and was found six days later, deceased in a secluded storm drain in the Northwood Road area.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Testimony
In a poignant video interview played in court, Fiona Donohoe, Noah's mother, described the anguish of her son's disappearance. She recounted becoming fearful when Noah failed to answer his mobile phone, stating, "My instinct told me something wasn't right. I was concerned that Noah had been a bit down and more emotional than usual." She revealed that before he left home, she had found him crying in his room, but he claimed he was laughing when questioned.
Fiona Donohoe paid tribute to her son's "lust for life and learning" and spoke of their "beautiful, magical bond." She described the period between Noah's disappearance and the discovery of his body as a "living nightmare," visibly distressed as her emergency call from the day he went missing was replayed in court.
Unusual Circumstances and Conspiracy Theories
Mr Justice Rooney addressed the jury of two women and nine men, urging them to maintain an open mind and base their findings solely on evidence presented in court, disregarding the extensive publicity and conspiracy theories that have surrounded the case. Last week, he cautioned the public against social media activities that could prejudice the inquest, which is anticipated to continue until late March.
Noah's disappearance in the summer of 2020 prompted a massive community response, with hundreds of volunteers taking to the streets to search for him. He had departed his south Belfast home on his bicycle at 5.41pm on 21 June 2020, reportedly to meet friends, carrying a khaki rucksack containing a Lenovo laptop and a copy of Jordan Peterson's book 12 Rules for Life.
Puzzling Journey and Evidence
CCTV footage revealed that Noah cycled through Belfast city centre, fell off his bicycle on the Shore Road, and entered a Protestant enclave in north Belfast, approximately 3 miles from his home—an area he is believed not to have visited before. In a baffling turn of events, during this journey, he discarded his rucksack, telephone, and clothing, proceeding to cycle naked.
Police later located his body in a storm drain, with Peter Coll KC, counsel for the coroner, informing the jury that evidence would show the bars on the drain were spaced widely enough for Noah to pass through. A postmortem examination concluded that his death resulted from drowning, with police indicating no apparent foul play.
School's Tribute and Ongoing Investigations
St Malachy's college, where Noah was a pupil, described him as an industrious student who played the cello, with his mother asserting that the actions attributed to him were entirely out of character. In October of last year, the coroner released previously unseen CCTV footage from the early hours of the day Noah disappeared, showing him leaving his Fitzroy Avenue home at about 3.34am wearing flip-flops, a T-shirt, and shorts, and returning barefoot without headphones at 4.08am.
The coroner has appealed for information regarding Noah's whereabouts that morning, any potential encounters, the fate of his flip-flops and headphones, and whether he had undertaken similar early-morning excursions previously. In her witness statement, Fiona Donohoe expressed hope that the inquest would provide long-awaited answers, stating, "I'm holding out hope that this inquest is able to provide me with explanations."
