Witness Initially Believed Naked Cyclist Noah Donohoe Was a Prank
A key witness has testified at the Noah Donohoe inquest that he initially thought the sight of the schoolboy cycling naked was merely a "prank" on the day the teenager disappeared. The hearing at Belfast Coroner's Court resumed on Monday following a week-long adjournment, now entering its fourth week with a jury present.
Discovery of Clothing and Witness Observations
Connor McConnell told the court that on Sunday, June 21, 2020, he was at his mother's partner's house when he observed a naked male cycling past the window on Northwood Road. His initial statement, read to the jury, detailed his immediate reaction: "I initially thought that this was a prank." After going outside, he discovered items of clothing scattered on the street, including shoes neatly placed on the footpath, along with shorts, boxers, a T-shirt, and a hoodie that appeared to have been stepped out of.
Mr McConnell further described seeing a dark car driving up the street and two men conversing at the top of the cul-de-sac, though he concluded these events were unrelated to the naked cyclist. The inquest revealed that the witness had recently provided a second statement to address concerns about inaccuracies in his original account, clarifying his observations of the clothing.
Disputed Timeline of Police Contact
The proceedings delved into a contentious timeline regarding Mr McConnell's communications with the police. Audio recordings of two phone calls, which authorities stated were made on the Monday and Tuesday after Noah's disappearance, were played to the jury. However, Mr McConnell insisted he had made three calls to the police, including two on the Sunday night, prompted by a Facebook post about a missing person that he had seen shared online.
Counsel for the coroner, Declan Quinn, informed the witness that police records indicate the first contact occurred on Monday night. Donal Lunny KC, representing the PSNI, asserted that after "various searches," police were satisfied Mr McConnell first contacted them on Monday at 23:12, with a second call on Tuesday at 22:53. Mr McConnell firmly disagreed, maintaining his recollection of earlier contact.
Questioning of Witness Motives and Police Response
During afternoon questioning, Brenda Campbell KC, counsel for Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, probed Mr McConnell's motivations. She asked if he was "motivated by anything other than assisting the inquest," to which he responded, "I don't see the point in coming up here and lying about anything. I'm giving my honest memory." He expressed willingness to have his phone records examined to verify his claims.
Ms Campbell highlighted that police did not contact Mr McConnell to take a statement until nearly two years after Noah's disappearance, a delay the witness described as a "mystery" to him. He recounted that when police finally approached him, they were "very dismissive" about his questions regarding the lack of earlier response. Ms Campbell noted his clear recollection of seeing a social media post about Noah being missing, which he said spurred his initial police contact on Sunday night.
Background of the Case
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 leaving home on his bike to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as drowning. His mother, Fiona Donohoe, has attended every day of the inquest proceedings, seeking answers into the tragic circumstances surrounding her son's death.
The inquest continues to examine witness testimonies and police actions, with ongoing disputes over timelines and evidence accuracy underscoring the complexity of the investigation into this heartbreaking case.
