Inquest hears witness account of screams on night Noah Donohoe vanished
A witness has provided a chilling account to the jury at the Noah Donohoe inquest, stating she heard two screams on the night the schoolboy went missing in north Belfast. The testimony emerged as a police officer involved in the search faced rigorous questioning about the investigation's focus on the teenager's mental state and his interest in a self-help book.
Details of the witness testimony and ongoing inquest proceedings
Noah Donohoe, a 14-year-old pupil at St Malachy’s College, was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he left his home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was drowning. The inquest, now in its third week and heard with a jury, has seen Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, attend every day of the proceedings.
Tanya Brown, a resident of Premier Drive in north Belfast near where Noah disappeared, had her witness statement read to Belfast Coroner’s Court. Ms Brown described being in bed around midnight on June 21, 2020, with her bedroom window open due to the warm weather. She reported hearing a scream that sounded distant, like a girl screaming, prompting her to wake her husband and go outside to their back garden. There, she heard a second scream before returning inside after about five minutes. Ms Brown later became aware of Noah’s disappearance through phone messages and a search operation near her home the following day.
Police officer questioned over statement and investigation details
Earlier in the proceedings, a constable involved in the search for Noah gave evidence for a second day. He was questioned about a statement he provided to the Coroner’s Service in January 2021, seven months after Noah’s death. In that statement, the officer noted that Fiona Donohoe had described Noah as "very weepy" and had requested counselling for him through his school. Brenda Campbell KC, representing Ms Donohoe, highlighted that this detail was absent from the officer’s notes and the police log during the time Noah was missing.
The court reviewed transcripts of Ms Donohoe’s 999 call on June 21, 2020, and her inquest statement, with Ms Campbell arguing that the constable’s account was "materially different" from Ms Donohoe’s evidence. The officer maintained that his statement was based on his recollection from the time. Ms Campbell revealed that the January 2021 statement had been requested "out of the blue" by a senior officer to be sent to the Coroner’s Service, specifically asking for observations on Noah’s behaviour leading up to his disappearance.
Focus on Noah’s interest in self-help book and mental health aspects
Ms Campbell further pointed out that the constable’s statement referenced Noah’s interest in the book 12 Rules For Life by Jordan Peterson, a detail previously discussed in the inquest regarding Noah’s readings and conversations with friends. She questioned whether the officer was aware that this aspect might become a feature of the investigation or inquest. The officer responded that he specifically remembered Ms Donohoe speaking about the book, though he could not recall if he was aware of the context behind the statement request, which followed a preliminary inquest hearing where a coroner sought an expert witness to explore Noah’s mental health.
Barrister for the PSNI, Donal Lunny KC, asked the constable if the case remained significant to him by January 2021, to which the officer affirmed it was "significant, absolutely." The inquest continues, with further evidence expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Noah Donohoe’s tragic death.
