Police Officer Defends Sparse Notes from Initial Meeting with Noah Donohoe's Mother
The first police officer to visit the home of Noah Donohoe following his disappearance in 2020 has defended the brevity of his notes taken during the initial meeting with the schoolboy's mother, Fiona Donohoe. The officer, who was a constable at the time, faced intense questioning at an ongoing inquest into why he recorded only six lines in his pocket notebook about the encounter, which occurred hours after Noah went missing.
Background of the Case
Noah Donohoe was 14 years old when he was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after leaving his home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A post-mortem examination concluded that his cause of death was drowning. The inquest, which is being heard with a jury, is now in its third week, with Noah's mother attending every day of the proceedings.
Officer's Testimony and Actions
Giving evidence at Belfast Coroner's Court on Tuesday, the officer explained that he became aware of the missing person investigation on the evening of June 21, 2020. He spoke to Fiona Donohoe by phone before attending her south Belfast address. Reading from his statement, he noted that Noah's behaviour was "completely out of character," as he would typically return home before 10pm, and he had no access to cash or a vehicle apart from his bicycle.
The officer added that Ms Donohoe informed him her son had been very emotional earlier that day and that Noah had no prior history with the police. After searching Noah's bedroom, described as "extremely tidy," the officer found nothing to suggest the teenager did not intend to return home. He also testified that the risk assessment for the investigation was escalated to "high" after speaking to Noah's friend, Charlie Rocks, who revealed plans to visit Cavehill were cancelled due to weather.
Questioning Over Note-Taking Practices
Barrister Brenda Campbell KC, representing Fiona Donohoe, challenged the officer on his note-taking, emphasising that the first 24 to 48 hours are critical in missing person cases, where "time equals survivability." She presented a PSNI service procedure document stating that all relevant details should be recorded in an officer's pocket notebook. Ms Campbell pointed out that over a 12-hour shift, the officer had made only six lines of notes, with just four lines pertaining to the investigation itself.
When asked if all relevant details were recorded, the officer responded that he was "content with the notebook." He clarified that while not every action was highlighted in his notebook, all necessary information had been logged separately in the occurrence enquiry log (OEL). Ms Campbell further questioned why, given his experience with missing persons inquiries, he did not adhere to standard practice by documenting specifics like Fiona Donohoe's exact words. The officer defended his actions, stating it might not have been ideal to be "sitting with my head in my notebook, writing down notes continuously," and noted that details from the initial 999 call were recorded by a call handler.
Discovery of Noah's Mobile Phone
Earlier in the inquest, testimony was heard regarding the discovery of Noah's mobile phone while he was still missing. Adelaide Armstrong told the court that on June 22, 2020, she found a black mobile phone in Castleton Park, lying in a grassy area four or five feet from the railings. The screen was broken, and she took it home to charge it. Upon turning it on, she saw missed calls from a number listed as "Mum" and attempted to contact both that number and the police, though the calls initially rang out.
The inquest continues as further evidence is examined to shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding Noah Donohoe's death.
