Mother of Noah Donohoe Raises Critical Questions at Inquest Over Police Probe and Storm Drain Access
Fiona Donohoe, the mother of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, has delivered an emotional and probing statement at a long-awaited inquest into her son's death in 2020. She expressed a profound sense of duty not only to Noah but to all children, demanding clear answers about the circumstances surrounding his tragic passing.
Questions Over Police Investigation Methods
In her detailed testimony, Ms Donohoe raised significant concerns about how the police handled the investigation into Noah's disappearance and death. She revealed that she had been asked to provide her email address and password to authorities, a request she now views as an invasion of privacy. Additionally, she strongly disagreed with a police theory suggesting Noah had suffered a concussion from a head injury, which she found unconvincing and poorly substantiated.
Ms Donohoe also highlighted her discomfort with a police press conference held at Musgrave Street police station in central Belfast on June 24, 2020. She clarified that her attendance was not an endorsement of the police's theory, stating, "I felt ambushed" by the proceedings. Her statement underscored a growing lack of confidence in the investigative process, further exacerbated by the discovery of a photo on Noah's phone taken at 6.50pm on June 21, a time when she was attempting to call him.
Concerns About Storm Drain Access and CCTV Gaps
The inquest heard how Ms Donohoe last saw Noah at approximately 5.30pm on June 21, 2020, when he left their south Belfast home to cycle across the city to meet friends. Her worry escalated when he failed to check in by phone or return home by 8pm as agreed, leading her to report him missing at 9.45pm. She questioned how Noah's laptop and his copy of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life, which she described as "never out of his hand", were later found elsewhere, adding to the mystery.
Turning to the storm drain off Northwood Road, where Noah's body was discovered, Ms Donohoe expressed horror at the accessibility of the site. "As a parent, I am horrified at the idea that the grill positioned at the entrance the storm drain was such that a child coming through a rear garden of a home could simply walk through a grill or open a hatch, and then access a storm drain at the back of family homes", she stated. She also noted her confusion over how Noah could have known about the storm drain's location or entrance, raising further questions about the events leading to his death.
Issues with CCTV Coverage and Evidence
During her statement, which was presented via video in Belfast Coroner's Court, Ms Donohoe pointed out troubling gaps in the CCTV footage of Noah's journey across Belfast. She described retrieved clips showing Noah without his bag, then without his coat, and finally completely naked, yet expressed frustration over the lack of additional footage from other locations. "I have no explanation for what the CCTV that is held shows", she added, questioning why more comprehensive coverage had not been obtained.
Ms Donohoe also mentioned her dissatisfaction with the police's failure to search houses close to the storm drain, a decision she found inexplicable. By commissioning her own expert to examine Noah's phone, she uncovered the photo that further undermined her trust in the investigation, prompting her to ask who had possession of the device at that critical time.
Overall, Fiona Donohoe's heartfelt testimony at the inquest has brought to light numerous unresolved issues, from procedural lapses in the police probe to safety concerns over public infrastructure, all while emphasising her unwavering commitment to seeking justice for her son and protecting future generations.
