Belfast Inquest Hears Detailed Witness Accounts of Noah Donohoe's Final Movements
The ongoing inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has entered its second week at Belfast Coroner's Court, with emotional testimony from witnesses who encountered the schoolboy during his final movements. Noah disappeared in June 2020 after leaving his home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area of north Belfast. His body was discovered six days later in a water culvert, prompting this detailed judicial investigation.
Witness Describes Seeing Naked Cyclist She Initially Thought Was a Prank
On Thursday, the court heard a statement from Kerry Fraser, who was at her partner's house on Northwood Road in north Belfast on the evening Noah went missing. Ms Fraser described seeing a male cycling past the property completely naked, an image she initially dismissed as a Father's Day prank by someone who had consumed too much alcohol.
"He was tall, had an afro hairstyle, and was black," Ms Fraser's statement read. "He was sitting down cycling and did not appear to be distressed, although he was cycling quickly. I got up and went to the window and looked out, but he was away. I thought he must have gone into one of the houses."
After going outside, Ms Fraser discovered clothing items scattered nearby: grey shorts and white boxers in the street, a jumper over a wall, and trainers placed neatly against the wall. She also saw a bicycle lying on the ground further up the cul-de-sac but observed no sign of the male who had been riding it. Ms Fraser later became aware of the public appeal regarding Noah's disappearance and instructed her son to contact police.
The court learned that Ms Fraser had initially posted about seeing a naked cyclist on Facebook but removed the post after being contacted by a member of Noah's family.
Second Witness Found Noah's Bike Outside Her Home
Earlier in the proceedings, Karen Crooks, another resident of Northwood Road, testified that she discovered Noah's mountain bike near her car outside her house on the same evening. Ms Crooks explained that she lifted the bicycle about an hour later and propped it up, noting it remained there the following night.
"I realised the bike described matched the bike in my driveway," Ms Crooks told the inquest after seeing social media posts about Noah's disappearance, prompting her to contact police.
During questioning by Neasa Murnaghan, barrister for the Department of Infrastructure, Ms Crooks revealed that an area of wasteland containing the culvert where Noah was found could be accessed through a side gate at her property. Ms Murnaghan noted there was a 1.8 metre metal fence around the park area containing the storm drain, suggesting the only other access would require trespassing through Ms Crooks's property or a neighbour's.
Ms Crooks testified that her five-year-old son had been able to fit through the metal bars across the culvert entrance, known as a "debris screen," though he had not entered the tunnel itself.
Police Investigation Details Emerge During Questioning
Donal Lunny, barrister for the PSNI, informed Ms Crooks that when she contacted police, she became the first person to bring officers into the Northwood Road area, leading to inquiries that captured what is believed to be the last sighting of Noah. Mr Lunny questioned whether the gates to her property were open or shut on the evening Noah disappeared.
"I could not be 100% sure," Ms Crooks responded, "but the gate was usually kept shut as I had two dogs which could wander." When asked if Noah would have needed to open the gates to come up her driveway, Ms Crooks agreed this was likely.
Brenda Campbell KC, counsel for Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, who has attended every day of the inquest, questioned whether Ms Crooks had ever been warned about dangers around the storm drain. "This had never happened," Ms Crooks stated, adding she had not known there was no padlock on the culvert hatch before Noah's disappearance.
"After Noah disappeared, and the searches that started... that's really the first time that the dangers of it were drawn to your attention?" Ms Campbell asked. "100%, yes," Ms Crooks replied.
The witness confirmed she had publicly called for greater safety measures around culverts in residential areas but stated: "They have never contacted me or come near me to make me aware that this is not a safe area for children to be around, or to keep my children away from it."
The inquest will resume on Monday as investigators continue to piece together the final hours of Noah Donohoe's life and examine the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
