An inquest into the death of a teenager, whose remains were discovered in a storm drain in Belfast, has determined that there is insufficient evidence to clarify the unusual circumstances surrounding his demise, in part due to errors made by police investigators.
Noah Donohoe, aged 14, was last seen on June 21, 2020, when he left his home in south Belfast on his bicycle, informing his mother that he was heading to visit friends. His body was recovered six days later, deep within an underground water tunnel in the northern part of the city.
The case garnered significant attention throughout Northern Ireland, leading to widespread speculation on social media about the circumstances of his death and raising concerns regarding the police’s handling of the investigation. A postmortem examination conducted in 2020 determined that Noah had died by drowning.
During the inquest, the jury reviewed witness testimonies and CCTV footage revealing that Noah had been seen riding his bike around Belfast during the afternoon and evening of June 21. At one point, he fell from his bicycle and appeared to discard his clothing and personal items as he continued on. He was ultimately captured on CCTV cycling without clothes, abandoning his black Apollo mountain bike before heading toward a stream that led to the storm drain.
The jury, convened at the Belfast coroner’s court, found no shortcomings on the part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that could have contributed to the teenager’s death. Nonetheless, they identified a total of 13 investigative failures that hindered the ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding the circumstances of his passing.
These failures included the inadequacy in securing certain CCTV footage, a lack of follow-up on leads related to Noah’s green coat—which has never been found—and delays in obtaining relevant witness statements. Jurors characterized the overall strategy for the house-to-house search as “poorly” executed, managed, and documented. They noted that some statements were not collected in a timely manner, and the quality of notes recorded by police was substandard. Additionally, there were delays in identifying and investigating the storm drain.
The inquest also suggested that while it is possible, it is not likely that mismanagement of the storm drain by the Department for Infrastructure contributed to Noah’s death, as no warning signs were posted at the site, which was only partially secured with a debris screen that did not prevent access.
Fiona Donohoe, Noah’s mother, shared during the inquest that her son had been unusually emotional and affectionate in the days leading up to his disappearance, expressing concerns about his mental well-being after finding him in tears in his bedroom.
She mentioned that Noah had developed a fascination with the controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, noting that one of Peterson’s books, “12 Rules for Life,” was found in Noah’s backpack along with his laptop at the time he left home. Friends and teachers described Noah as intelligent, humorous, and musically talented, highlighting his status as a popular and high-achieving student.
The jury also heard from several psychiatric experts who concurred that Noah did not exhibit suicidal tendencies or evidence of drug use. Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Richard Church remarked that the case was the “most sad and unusual” he had encountered in his career.
Video footage showing Noah falling from his bike had initially led police to theorize that he might have sustained a head injury that caused disorientation, a perspective his mother believed received undue emphasis. The relationship between the family and investigators deteriorated, prompting them to initiate a crowdfunding campaign for a documentary focused on his death.
During his testimony in June, DCI Tom Phillips expressed regret to Fiona Donohoe and acknowledged that the PSNI had missed opportunities to trace Noah’s movements after it was revealed that he had left home at 3:30 AM the night before his disappearance, returning 30 minutes later without his flip-flops and earphones.
Phillips admitted that Noah’s mother had to “force” a thorough investigation into her son’s death, stating, “I am very sorry she had to do that.”
A prior investigation into potential corporate manslaughter against the Department for Infrastructure regarding access to the storm drain was unsuccessful due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
The inquest, which began in January, was initially expected to wrap up by Easter. It was adjourned by Coroner Mr. Justice Rooney on July 3 after the jury had retired to deliberate but had not reached a consensus; they resumed their discussions on Monday.
Outside the Belfast coroner’s court, solicitor Niall Murphy read a statement on behalf of Noah’s mother. In her statement, she expressed, “Noah was my greatest gift in life. I miss him every day. He should still be here with me, pursuing his dreams and planning for his future. I came to this inquest seeking answers, and I leave it with one clear answer: Noah was failed.”
She continued, “He was failed by the Department for Infrastructure, which left a hazardous storm drain unsecured and accessible to children. He was failed by the PSNI, which, from the moment I reported him missing, repeatedly failed to investigate and, from the moment he was found, ceased searching for answers.”
Her statement concluded, “I always told Noah I would fight for him if he ever needed me. Thankfully, I have not been alone in this battle, and I am immensely grateful to my family, and to Noah’s supporters, who have stood by me and carried Noah’s legacy since day one.”
