Police Officer Testifies 'Nothing Suggested' Noah Donohoe Entered Tunnel
A police officer involved in the search for Noah Donohoe in 2020 has testified that there was "nothing to suggest" the schoolboy had entered a water tunnel where his body was later discovered. Sergeant Hutchings, who served as the lead police search adviser during the operation, made this statement during the ongoing inquest at Belfast Coroner's Court.
Background of the Tragic Case
Noah Donohoe, a 14-year-old pupil at St Malachy's College, was found dead in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020. His naked body was discovered six days after he left his home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area of the city. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was drowning.
The inquest, which is being conducted with a jury, has now entered its sixth week of proceedings. This judicial inquiry aims to establish the circumstances surrounding Noah's untimely death.
Search Adviser's Detailed Testimony
Sergeant Hutchings provided comprehensive evidence about the search efforts. He explained that despite his belief that Noah remained in the vicinity where he was last seen in north Belfast, he did not consider the storm drain tunnels a likely location initially.
"The storm drain or the culvert was a very low probability," Sergeant Hutchings told the court. "I did not believe he was in there. There was nothing to suggest that Noah was inside that pipe."
However, he emphasized that the search of the tunnel network was necessary to achieve absolute certainty. "The search had to be done so I could be 100% sure Noah was not in the tunnel," he stated.
Timeline of Search Operations
The officer described his personal involvement with the culvert entrance in Northwood Linear Park. He recalled first noticing the structure on Tuesday morning, the day after Noah's disappearance. "When I got there I walked down the side of the house. That's when I saw the culvert and the big drain," he testified.
Sergeant Hutchings acknowledged receiving a phone call from Sean McCarry of the Community Rescue Service on Monday evening. Mr McCarry had informed him about Noah's bicycle being found and mentioned a stream in the area. The officer stated he directed Mr McCarry to contact the duty officer if any search needed to be conducted.
Under questioning from coroner's counsel Declan Quinn, Sergeant Hutchings addressed evidence previously presented by Mr McCarry. The rescue service volunteer had testified that he identified the culvert as a potential entry point for Noah within five minutes of arriving at the park on Monday night and had specifically informed Sergeant Hutchings about this discovery.
Critical Decisions and Reflections
When asked whether he would have organized an earlier search of the culvert had he been aware of its significance on Monday, Sergeant Hutchings responded decisively: "I would have started the ball rolling."
He also revealed that he was unaware that members of the Community Rescue Service had entered the culvert on Monday evening. By Wednesday morning, multiple areas were being searched simultaneously, including the storm drain tunnels.
Persistent Belief About Noah's Whereabouts
Throughout his testimony, Sergeant Hutchings maintained his conviction that Noah remained in the general area where he was last seen on Sunday evening. He expressed puzzlement about the lack of witness accounts, particularly given the residential nature of the location.
"He had to be still somewhere within that area," the officer asserted. "The number of houses there, somebody had to have seen him, and nobody was coming forward to say that they had seen him run, a naked child had run past their window."
The inquest continues as the court methodically examines the events leading to the tragic discovery of Noah Donohoe's body in the storm drain system of north Belfast.
