Mr Justice Rooney continued his charge to the jury on Monday in the closing stages of the long-running inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe. The coroner began his summing up on Thursday, during the 21st week of the inquest, which started in January. He indicated he hopes to finish the charge by the end of Monday's sitting.
Background of the Case
Noah, a 14-year-old pupil at St Malachy's College, went missing on June 21, 2020, after leaving home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area. Six days later, his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast. CCTV and witness evidence showed Noah took a detour from his planned route, cycling along York Road and ending up on Northwood Road, where it is suggested he entered a tunnel via a culvert behind a house. CCTV also captured Noah cycling naked along Northwood Road, and residents reported hearing noises, including screams, on the night he disappeared.
Evidence and Findings
The inquest, held at Belfast Coroner's Court, has heard almost six months of evidence, including testimony from 76 witnesses, statements from 42 additional people, and extensive exhibits such as maps, video footage, photographs, police logs, and expert reports. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as drowning. The jury of eight men and two women is tasked with reaching findings on how Noah came by his death.
Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, has attended every day of the inquest and has led a high-profile campaign for answers. On Thursday, Mr Justice Rooney reminded the jury that the inquest is a fact-finding inquiry, not a criminal trial, and is not about finding fault or apportioning blame. He cautioned that the jury could not make findings unsupported by evidence, including that Noah was assaulted by a third party, under the influence of drugs, in a psychotic episode, or that he took his own life. He stated it was “not a failure” of the inquest process that certain findings could not be made.
