Belfast Inquest Hears Witness Testimony of Screams on Night Schoolboy Disappeared
A woman has told an inquest she heard two distinct screams on the night 14-year-old schoolboy Noah Donohoe went missing in Belfast. The testimony emerged during the third week of the coroner's investigation into the tragic disappearance and death of the St Malachy's College pupil in June 2020.
Witness Account of Midnight Disturbance
Tanya Brown, who lives in north Belfast near where Noah vanished, provided a statement read to Belfast Coroner's Court. Ms Brown described being in bed around midnight on June 21, 2020, reading with her bedroom window open on what she recalled as a warm night.
'I heard what sounded like a scream, but it didn't sound as if it was close by, it sounded like it was some distance away. It sounded like a girl screaming,' Ms Brown stated in her testimony.
She explained that she woke her husband, Grant Brown, who was sleeping downstairs, and both went into their back garden to investigate. 'We stood in the garden, and that's when I heard the second scream,' she added, noting they remained outside for approximately five minutes before returning indoors.
Police Statement Details and Husband's Account
During questioning by Brenda Campbell KC, counsel for Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, it was revealed that Ms Brown's original police statement referred to hearing at least two, and potentially three screams. When asked if she had any doubt the sounds were human, Ms Brown responded 'no doubt', suggesting 'it could have been a young person or a girl.'
Grant Brown's statement described being woken by his wife after she heard screaming. 'I took a look about couldn't see anything. That's when I heard the sound of a muffled scream. It sounded like a girl's scream, it didn't sound as if it was close by,' he told the court.
Mr Brown added that after returning inside and falling asleep on the downstairs sofa, he woke around 3am to see 'a white flash like a torchlight flashed in my kitchen window.'
Background to the Tragic Disappearance
Noah Donohoe disappeared on June 21, 2020, after leaving his Belfast home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area. The 14-year-old was last seen walking naked in the direction of Northwood Road in north Belfast at approximately 6pm that evening.
Six days after his disappearance, the schoolboy was found dead in a storm drain approximately 600 metres from where he was last seen. A post-mortem examination concluded that drowning was the cause of death.
Police Testimony and Investigation Details
The inquest also heard from a constable involved in the search for Noah, who gave evidence for a second day. The officer 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 constable recalled that Fiona Donohoe had described her son as 'very weepy' and mentioned she had requested counselling for him through his school. Ms Campbell noted this detail had not appeared in the officer's contemporaneous notes or the police log from when Noah was missing.
The court was shown transcripts of Ms Donohoe's 999 call on June 21, 2020, and her statement to the inquest. Ms Campbell suggested the constable's account was 'materially different' from what Noah's mother had presented in her evidence.
Focus on Noah's Reading Material
Ms Campbell highlighted that the constable's January 2021 statement also referenced Noah's interest in Jordan Peterson's book '12 Rules For Life'. The inquest has previously heard that Noah had read the Canadian psychologist's work and discussed it with friends.
'Did you, after your dealings with Fiona on the 22nd or 23rd, did you become aware of any discussions or any focus on how Noah's reading that book may have become a feature of his inquest or the investigation into his death?' Ms Campbell asked the officer.
The constable responded that he had made the statement five years ago based on his recollections of conversations with Ms Donohoe, stating 'I specifically remember her speaking about that book.'
Ongoing Proceedings and Family Presence
The inquest, which is being heard with a jury, continues with Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe attending every day of the proceedings. Ms Brown told the court she became aware Noah was missing when she noticed messages on her phone from friends the following day and observed search operations near her home.
Donal Lunny KC, barrister for the PSNI, asked the constable if by January 2021 this remained a significant case in his memory. The officer responded 'Significant, absolutely.' The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Noah Donohoe's disappearance and death.
