Witness Recalls 'Startled' Teenager Noah Donohoe in Minutes Before Belfast Disappearance
A woman who observed teenager Noah Donohoe in the critical moments before he vanished has provided a compelling account to the ongoing inquest, describing how the 14-year-old appeared 'startled' as he retrieved his bicycle from the road. Noah was tragically discovered in a storm drain on June 27, 2020, approximately six days after he was last sighted near Northwood Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sinead Quinn's Detailed Statement to Police
During proceedings at Belfast Coroner's Court, jurors were presented with a statement from witness Sinead Quinn, which was originally given to police in May 2021. In her testimony, Quinn expressed absolute certainty that the young man she witnessed was Noah Donohoe. She recounted the events of June 21, 2020, noting it was Father's Day, as she had been out purchasing a present for her father.
Quinn stated: 'I was driving. We went to Lidl and Asda on the Shore Road. It was just as the shop was closing, around 6pm. As I was about to turn right onto North Queen Street, I saw a young male picking a bike up off the road. I saw he had dropped a khaki coat. I beeped the horn. He looked at the coat and looked at me. He looked startled and cycled on.'
Recognition and Police Contact
The witness emphasised that she did not observe any visible injuries on the teenager at the time. However, upon seeing a subsequent police appeal for information following Noah's disappearance, Quinn promptly contacted the authorities. She affirmed her conviction, adding: 'I am certain it was Noah I saw. The bike and coat were the same.' This testimony adds a poignant human element to the investigation, capturing a fleeting but significant interaction.
CCTV Footage Reveals Final Journey
In a related development, the inquest was shown CCTV footage yesterday documenting Noah's journey across Belfast after he departed from his mother Fiona's residence on Fitzroy Avenue. The non-continuous video clips depicted him cycling from the southern part of the city to the north. Notably, in the final footage captured on Northwood Road, Noah was seen cycling naked, a detail that has raised further questions and intensified the mystery surrounding his disappearance.
The inquest, which is being presided over by Mr Justice Rooney, continues as authorities seek to piece together the events leading to this tragic outcome. The combination of eyewitness accounts and technological evidence is crucial in understanding the timeline and circumstances of Noah Donohoe's last known movements.
