The jury at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe have been told to reach their findings based solely on the evidence they have heard in court. Coroner Mr Justice Rooney started his charge to the jury of eight men and two women on Thursday, marking the 21st week of the inquest, which began in January.
Background of the Case
Noah, a pupil at St Malachy's College, was 14 years old when his naked body was discovered in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020. He had been missing for six days after leaving his home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.
Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, who has led a high-profile campaign for answers surrounding his death, has been present at Belfast Coroner's Court for every day of the inquest.
Coroner's Instructions to the Jury
Mr Justice Rooney told the jury that his charge would be lengthy, covering almost six months of evidence. He noted that the inquest had heard from 76 witnesses, with statements from an additional 42 people, and had considered maps, video footage, photographs, police logs, and expert reports.
The coroner reminded the jury that the process is a fact-finding inquiry into how Noah died, not a criminal trial where someone is found guilty of an offence or liable for damages. He emphasized it is not about finding fault, attributing blame, or apportioning guilt.
“Your findings must be based solely on the evidence that you have heard or have seen in this court, you must ignore everything else other than this evidence. It is irrelevant,” he said. “We are here because this inquest is required by law. You must not suppose that this automatically means that something went wrong that contributed to Noah’s death, you must not lose focus on the question we are here to consider, that is how Noah came by his death.”
Jury's Task
The jury is charged with reaching findings on how Noah came by his death, based exclusively on the evidence presented during the inquest.
