A coroner's inquest that has been anticipated for years into the tragic death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe is scheduled to commence this week.
Proceedings to Open at Belfast Coroner's Court
The formal process is set to begin at Belfast Coroner's Court with the selection of a jury. Mr Justice Rooney will preside over the proceedings, with opening statements expected later in the week.
The case centres on the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, a pupil at St Malachy's College. He vanished on 21 June 2020 while cycling from his home in south Belfast to meet friends. An extensive six-day search, involving hundreds of volunteers from across the city, ended in devastation when his body was discovered in a storm drain in the Northwood Road area of north Belfast on 27 June 2020.
The Mysterious Circumstances Before Disappearance
In the short period before he went missing, witnesses reported seeing the schoolboy fall from his bicycle on the Shore Road. Shortly afterwards, and most perplexingly, he was seen in the area with no clothes on. Police investigations led them to believe he subsequently entered the storm drain system where he was later found.
The unexplained nature of the teenager's death has generated significant and sustained public interest across Northern Ireland and beyond. For nearly six years, the lack of clear answers has haunted the community and, most of all, Noah's family.
A Mother's Relentless Campaign for Answers
At the heart of the quest for truth has been Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe. She has anchored a determined and public campaign, tirelessly pressing for a full examination of the circumstances surrounding her son's death.
She has expressed hope that the coroner's inquest will finally provide clarity and answer some of the many outstanding questions that have persisted since that summer day in 2020. The proceedings represent a critical juncture in a long and painful journey for the Donohoe family and all those touched by the case.
