Police Investigated Sex Offenders During Noah Donohoe Search, Inquest Told
An inquest into the tragic death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe has heard that police investigated the possibility of involvement by known sex offenders in the area when the 14-year-old was not located quickly after his disappearance. The revelation came during the sixth week of proceedings at Belfast Coroner's Court, where the case is being heard before a jury.
Search Adviser's Critical Testimony
Sergeant Hutchings, who served as the lead police search adviser (Polsa) during the operation to find Noah, provided crucial testimony. He stated that when Noah remained missing despite extensive searches, investigators began examining registered sex offenders living nearby as a separate line of inquiry. "I believe the investigative part started looking at known sex offenders in the area," Hutchings told the court. "That is a separate strand from what I am doing."
The officer made a stark admission about the search's outcome, suggesting that Noah's body might never have been recovered if he hadn't decided to examine underground water tunnels. "If I had stopped on the Tuesday morning and said that pipe has got a cage around it, I do not need to check it, Noah would still be there," Hutchings testified.
Timeline of the Search Operation
Noah Donohoe, a pupil at St Malachy's College, disappeared on Sunday, June 21, 2020, after leaving his home on his bicycle to meet friends in Belfast's Cavehill area. His naked body was discovered six days later in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was drowning.
The search operation faced significant challenges from the outset. Hutchings revealed that by Thursday, June 25, police were working with two main hypotheses: that Noah was missing voluntarily or missing "under the influence of a third party." The officer explained the growing concern as searches proved fruitless: "We should have found Noah if he was there. He should have been within that area when nobody else had seen him. When we couldn't find him it was a case of why are we not finding this boy? Has somebody taken him?"
Controversy Over Culvert Search Timing
The inquest heard conflicting evidence about when authorities became aware of the culvert entrance in Northwood Linear Park, where Noah was eventually found. Sean McCarry from the Community Rescue Service testified that he informed Hutchings about the culvert as a potential entry point for Noah on Monday evening, the day after the disappearance.
However, Hutchings stated he only became aware of the culvert's size and significance when he visited the park on Tuesday morning. "When I got there I walked down the side of the house. That's when I saw the culvert and the big drain," he said. When asked if he would have organized an earlier search had he known about the culvert on Monday, Hutchings responded: "I would have started the ball rolling."
Search Methodology and Challenges
Hutchings defended the search methodology, explaining that the storm drain was initially considered "a very low probability" location. "There was nothing to suggest that Noah was inside that pipe," he said. The search had to proceed methodically to ensure searchers' safety while achieving certainty. "I can't put somebody into a pipe and endanger their life, it has to be done as safely and methodically as possible," Hutchings emphasized.
Police divers were eventually deployed to search from tunnel outlets on Friday, June 26. Noah's body was discovered the following day, Saturday, June 27. Hutchings revealed he had wanted to work that Saturday but was prevented from doing so as it was his scheduled rest day.
Emotional Testimony and Condolences
In a poignant moment, Hutchings expressed his condolences to Noah's family, particularly his mother Fiona Donohoe, who has attended each day of the inquest. "This is the first time I have had any contact with Noah's family. With the court's approval, I want to send my heartfelt condolences to them," he said. "I wanted to find Noah."
The officer reflected on the significance of recovering Noah's body, stating: "The fact that Noah's body had been found meant his mother was able to bury him." He contrasted this with other missing persons cases, adding: "I have a number of outstanding missing persons that I still haven't found and I don't think we are ever going to find."
Ongoing Inquest Proceedings
The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Noah Donohoe's death, with counsel for the coroner Declan Quinn leading the questioning. The proceedings are expected to further explore the police response, search protocols, and the investigation into potential third-party involvement in the tragedy that shocked the Belfast community and beyond.
