Anonymous Calls Regarding Noah Donohoe's Laptop Played at Inquest
The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has entered its 10th week at Belfast Coroner's Court, with proceedings focusing on recordings of anonymous phone calls made to police about an attempt to sell the schoolboy's laptop while he was missing.
Witness Denies Making Calls
During the hearing, a witness referred to as AC3 testified that she did not make the anonymous calls, despite claims from another witness, AC2, and from Daryl Paul, who has pleaded guilty to stealing a rucksack containing Noah's laptop and school books. AC3 stated, "I can say I did not make this call to police, it does not sound like my voice on the call." She also denied any threats to herself or her family before giving evidence.
Details of the Anonymous Calls
Recordings of two anonymous calls made on June 24 and 25, 2020, were played to the jury. In the first call, the caller reported that Daryl Paul attempted to sell a laptop at a flat, mentioning items including a rucksack, a green North Face coat, and a school book with Noah Donohoe's name. The caller expressed concern, saying, "I'm just really worried about this guy. If he knows something about where that boy is." The second call questioned why police had not acted on the previous information.
Conflicting Testimonies
AC2's statement, read in court, described how he and AC3 met Daryl Paul on June 21, 2020, when Paul tried to sell them the laptop. AC2 said he felt "sick about the whole thing" after learning the laptop might be Noah's and reported it to police. He claimed AC3 made the anonymous call while he was with her in her car. However, AC3 refuted this, suggesting AC2 and Paul were "spoofing" or lying.
Legal Cross-Examination
Barrister Ian Skelt KC, representing Daryl Paul, pointed out that when police called back the number used for the anonymous calls, a woman provided AC3's correct name, address, and date of birth. AC3 insisted she did not answer that call, stating, "No, absolutely not," and expressed confusion over how someone else could have her details. Brenda Campbell KC, representing Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, emphasized that Ms. Donohoe seeks to know the caller's motivation and sincerity.
Background of the Case
Noah Donohoe, a pupil at St Malachy's College, was found dead in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he went missing. A post-mortem indicated drowning as the likely cause of death. His mother has attended every day of the inquest, which is being heard with a jury and will resume on Tuesday.
