United Kingdom NOAH DONOHOE: Missing from Belfast, Ireland - 21 June 2020 - Age 14 *Found Deceased*

Police say missing Noah Donohoe (14) may have head injury after abandoning clothing

It's believed missing Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe may have a head injury after falling off his bike and abandoning his clothing, police have said in an urgent appeal.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Police say missing Noah Donohoe (14) may have head injury after abandoning clothing

It's believed missing Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe may have a head injury after falling off his bike and abandoning his clothing, police have said in an urgent appeal.

The 14-year-old left his home in south Belfast on Sunday at around 5.30pm and there have been increasing concerns for his welfare.

Noah left his home on his black Apollo mountain bike wearing a black skateboarding helmet, khaki green North Face jacket, grey sweat shorts with an emblem on one leg, a tie-die blue hoody, Nike trainers with a bright yellow ‘tick’ and carrying a khaki rucksack.

He was seen on Ormeau Avenue at 5.45pm and on Royal Avenue heading towards York Street a short time after.

Noah was then seen on North Queen Street heading towards the Limestone Road at 5.57pm.

Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: "An eyewitness believes they saw a young male matching Noah’s description fall off his bicycle on Sunday evening, possibly sustaining a head injury, in the vicinity of North Queen Street/York Street, but we do not know the specific time.

“We believe Noah got back on his bicycle, cycling into Northwood Road where he then abandons all his clothing, as he is seen a short time later cycling while naked. We believe Noah then dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot.

“There have been no further confirmed sightings of Noah since 6.08pm on Sunday."


Media - NOAH DONOHOE: Missing from Belfast, Ireland since 21 June 2020 - Age 14

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Date set for inquest into death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe

The 14-year-old North Belfast schoolboy was found dead in a storm drain in June 2020

www.belfastlive.co.uk

Noah Donohoe inquest set to begin later this year and could run for six weeks​

An inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe is set to commence in September and could last up to six weeks, the coroner’s court has heard.

His mother Fiona Donohoe is hoping to secure answers to some of the questions surrounding the death of her son through the inquest process.

The inquest was originally scheduled to take place last year but was then delayed after a ruling from coroner Joe McCrisken that it should proceed with a jury, following an application from Ms Donohoe.

At a preliminary hearing in the coroner’s court in Belfast on Monday, legal representatives discussed scheduling issues related to the substantive inquest.

Along with Mr McCrisken, they provisionally agreed to a start date of Monday September 16, pending court availability.

The coroner ringfenced the Thursday and Friday of the previous week to provide court time to address any outstanding legal issues ahead of swearing in the jury on the following Monday.

Brenda Campbell KC, representing the Donohoe family, suggested that hearing evidence on four days each week might be more manageable and effective than running the inquest for five full days.

“I’m thinking particularly of Noah’s mother in these circumstances and whether or not she is capable of standing the intensity of a five day week,” she said.

“But also in terms of management of witnesses and preparation for witnesses – this is going to be a fairly intensive process.”

Coroner McCrisken said he had no issue with that approach, adding that he had found a four day week useful in previous inquests.

He said he would plan for the inquest to run for up to six weeks.

Issues around the disclosure of documents in the case remain outstanding, with Noah’s family having made several requests for material from the police.

The coroner is to hold a half day hearing on March 5 to hear submissions related to the disclosure issues.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Concert in memory of Noah Donohoe to raise money for NI Children's Hospice

It comes after 'The Noah Donohoe Independent Investigation' are no longer in need of public funds

www.belfastlive.co.uk

Concert in memory of Noah Donohoe to raise money for NI Children's Hospice​

A concert originally to be held in aid of the investigation into the death of Noah Donohoe will now raise money for NI Children's Hospice.

'Concert 4 Noah' is set to take place on May 24, 2024 at Custom House Square in the city centre, with several big names already signed.

The organisers have now been informed that the intended destination for the receipt of profit funds for the event, 'The Noah Donohoe Independent Investigation' are no longer in need of public funds.

Respecting the wishes and having had discussions with Noah’s family, the concert will still go ahead but will give the proceeds to the ‘NI Children’s Hospice’ charity instead.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Noah Donohoe death: Senior coroner recuses himself from inquest

Joe McCrisken had been in charge of the pre-inquest proceedings over the past number of years.

www.bbc.com

Coroner recuses himself from Noah Donohoe inquest​

A senior coroner has recused himself from the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe.

Joe McCrisken had been in charge of the pre-inquest proceedings over the past number of years.

In a statement to BBC News NI, the Lady Chief Justice's Office has confirmed that he "will not be hearing this inquest".

In a social media post, a law firm representing the teenager’s family said: "On behalf of Fiona Donohoe [Noah Donohoe's mother], we confirm that the senior coroner will no longer preside over Noah’s inquest proceedings."

The message added that "arrangements are being made for the inquest and all future pre-inquest hearings to be heard before a new coroner".

The Lady Chief Justice's Office said the inquest would be listed before another coroner with details being confirmed in due course.

The statement added: "To protect the administration of justice and to guard against further prejudicial material being published which might impact negatively on the integrity of the jury process, the coroner has ordered that no details of the content and reasoning of the recusal decision be published in any publication of any sort without further order of the court."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Noah Donohoe: Court told about hand photo on phone

A photo of a hand may have been taken on the teenager's mobile hours after he went missing, a court has heard.

www.bbc.com

Court told about hand photo on Noah Donohoe phone​

A photo of a hand may have been taken on Noah Donohoe's mobile phone hours after the teenager went missing, a court has heard.

The 14-year-old was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020.

This was six days after he went missing as he travelled to meet friends.

Brenda Campbell KC, who is representing Noah's mother Fiona, told an inquest review hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast that during an examination of material from Noah's phone, an expert had found an image of what "appears to be a palm or a portion of a hand".

She described it as: "A type of photograph that might inadvertently be taken by a telephone that has been picked up or held in a hand."

"The significance of it is that the expert instructs it was taken at 18:50 on the evening of Noah's disappearance," she added.

Ms Campbell said they have asked their expert to "double check" the time, but if it was taken at 18:50, "that raises the prospect that Noah's phone was in someone's hand at that time".

"Based on what we know of Noah's movements and his disappearance about 40 minutes previously in the area of Northwood Crescent, a strong inference would be that it wasn't Noah's hand," Ms Campbell said.

The barrister said she wanted to raise a number of questions for the PSNI around the photograph.

She said: "Did they know about it and for how long have they known about it? And what was done about it?"

"And who was in possession of Noah's phone at that time and on that date?" she continued.

"If the answer is no, they didn't know about it, then why not?

"It is of such importance that we bring it directly to the attention of the court and we ask for urgent responses in relation to it."

Barrister Donal Lunny KC, who is representing the PSNI, said: "I have had very limited time in which to attempt to seek instructions.

"I obviously will and we will communicate with the next-of-kin and the coroner's service about that issue," he added.

The court was told a provisional date for a full inquest had been set for 3 February 2025.

The coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, said he would review the case again on 14 November.