Inquest Hears Early CID Referral in Noah Donohoe Case Was 'Unusual but Justified'
A police witness has testified at Belfast Coroner's Court that the early referral of the Noah Donohoe investigation to the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Criminal Investigation Department was unusual but justified. The inquest, now in its seventh week with a jury, is examining the circumstances surrounding the death of the 14-year-old schoolboy.
Police 'Gripped' Seriousness of Search Early On
Chief Inspector Robinson, an experienced officer in missing persons cases, reiterated his view that police had gripped the seriousness of the search for Noah at an early point. He stated that this early involvement of CID, which specialises in serious and complex crime, was relevant to the investigation's grip and ownership by PSNI, though he noted it was probably not relevant to outcome.
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 while cycling to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was drowning.
Investigation Logs and Risk Assessment Details
During the inquest, Donal Lunney KC, counsel for the PSNI, reviewed police logs from the early hours of June 22, 2020. The logs showed that Noah was deemed a high-risk missing person at 12.47am, just hours after he was reported missing at 9.44pm on June 21.
Mr Robinson explained that at operational handovers, sergeants look for high-risk cases, and while officers took time to familiarise themselves with risk assessments, these should have been recorded separately from the investigative log. He expressed no concerns about the continuity of the investigation regarding handovers but noted that the rationale for Noah's high-risk status was not logged.
CID Involvement and Justification for Early Elevation
Mr Lunney highlighted that CID was asked for input as early as Tuesday, June 23, which Mr Robinson agreed was unusual. In his compliance review of the PSNI's handling, Mr Robinson stated he had never referred a case to CID during his time as a detective inspector, emphasising the rarity of such an early referral.
The review justified this decision by noting the investigation was becoming more complex, with initial plausible scenarios, such as Noah being at Cavehill, becoming remote. Mr Robinson added that time is not the only factor in missing person cases, and risks like potential criminal involvement can warrant elevation to CID.
This testimony underscores the meticulous scrutiny of police procedures in this high-profile case, as the inquest continues to explore the events leading to Noah Donohoe's tragic death.
