An inquest jury has been presented with poignant CCTV footage capturing the final known movements of schoolboy Noah Donohoe, who tragically died in a storm drain in June 2020. The fourteen-year-old was found deceased six days after leaving his home in Belfast to meet friends, with the hearing examining the mysterious circumstances surrounding his disappearance and subsequent death.
Final Moments Captured on Camera
The coroner's court viewed nine minutes of non-continuous footage from the evening Noah vanished. The sequence begins with the teenager leaving his Fitzroy Avenue apartment building equipped with his bicycle, wearing a cycling helmet and carrying a backpack. Subsequent clips document his journey cycling through Belfast city centre before heading northwards.
The final clip, representing the last visual evidence before his disappearance, shows Noah riding his bicycle completely naked. This disturbing imagery has formed a central focus of the ongoing inquest proceedings at Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice.
Witness Testimony from Motorist
The jury heard evidence from motorist Donna Blain, who observed Noah on that same evening after he had apparently fallen from his bicycle. Ms Blain initially contacted police during the search period between Noah's disappearance and the discovery of his body, providing a formal statement ten months after his death.
She described witnessing Noah lifting his bicycle from the ground following a fall, though she could not determine what caused the incident. "He was looking around as if embarrassed before he cycled off," Ms Blain testified, noting that Noah left his coat behind on the ground. She observed no visible indications that the teenager had sustained any injuries from the fall.
Character Evidence from Closest Friend
Charlie Rocks, who described himself as Noah's "closest friend" during their time together at St Malachy's College in Belfast, provided heartfelt testimony about the teenager's character. "He was the nicest, friendliest person, funniest person," Mr Rocks told the hearing emotionally.
He elaborated further on Noah's personality, stating: "Noah was friendly with everyone in school. I joked with him that he knew everyone in school. He wasn't the type of person to be in the popular friend group, but he knew everyone." Mr Rocks also emphasised Noah's intellectual curiosity, recalling: "He was the smartest kid, he was always asking questions."
Mental Health and Personal Development
Under questioning from counsel to the coroner Peter Coll KC, Mr Rocks addressed Noah's mental state prior to his disappearance. "Noah is very eccentric as a person, and I think some of the last conversations we had before he passed were certainly eccentric," he acknowledged. "I think that was because of the transitional period he was going through."
However, Mr Rocks clarified: "But in terms of immediate concern, I had none at the time, and even looking back on it now, I still don't." He noted that Noah had appeared "upbeat" and was looking forward to the end of lockdown restrictions, having only mentioned feeling "blue" on one occasion.
The inquest was shown social media messages exchanged between Noah, Mr Rocks, and another friend named Jay Tierney. Mr Rocks suggested that during the Covid lockdown period, Noah had become "more open" about discussing his mental health. "He was starting to grow up and think more about his emotions. He was definitely changing, which was great," he reflected.
Further Revelations During Testimony
Mr Rocks revealed that Noah had recommended Jordan Peterson's self-help book "12 Rules for Life" to him, though he had declined to read it. Under cross-examination by barrister for the PSNI Donal Lunny, Mr Rocks admitted he had been unaware that Noah occasionally stayed overnight alone in his Belfast apartment.
When questioned by barrister for Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, Brenda Campbell KC, about whether Noah had ever struggled with his sexuality, Mr Rocks responded: "He was straight from what I knew." The court viewed messages between the two friends discussing their mutual attraction to the same girl, with Mr Rocks explaining: "I was just a teenager and so was he. It was important for me that I made it clear that it was him first for me."
Addressing Noah's interests, Mr Rocks stated definitively: "He never mentioned to me anything about storm drains or going underground or being in tunnels. If he had been interested in these things, he would have talked about them." Noah's mother Fiona has attended the inquest throughout proceedings, seeking answers about her son's tragic death.
