Noah Donohoe Inquest: Expert Says Teenager 'Likely' Climbed Into Culvert Before Drowning
The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe has heard expert evidence suggesting it is "very likely" he climbed through bars into a storm drain culvert and became disorientated in the dark, creating the conditions that led to his drowning in June 2020.
The inquest resumed on Monday 13 April after an Easter break, with Professor Carolyn Roberts providing detailed testimony about the culvert's physical characteristics and the likely sequence of events on the night Noah disappeared.
Background
Noah Donohoe, a 14-year-old pupil from north Belfast, went missing on 21 June 2020. His body was discovered six days later in a storm drain in the north of the city. The circumstances of his disappearance and death have been the subject of intense public interest and deep distress for his family, who have campaigned tirelessly for a full and transparent inquest.
The inquest, which has been hearing evidence for several months, is examining every aspect of the events leading to Noah's death, including the design and safety of the drainage infrastructure, the emergency response, and the search operation.
Key Developments
Professor Roberts testified that the culvert's interior was smooth concrete with joints every few metres, and that its layout prevented light from illuminating its course, making disorientation possible. She stated that during high tide, the culvert near the discovery site was almost completely filled with slowly moving water.
The expert concluded that the most probable time for high tide after Noah entered the culvert was between 11:30pm and midnight on 21 June. She stated that the culvert would have filled quickly with water, and that in darkness, with cold conditions and a complex network of pipes, Noah would likely have become confused, leading to his drowning. She concluded it is "very likely" he drowned at or about this location between 11:30pm and midnight.
Dr Mark Cooper, a PSNI Expert Adviser, criticised a 2017 Department for Infrastructure risk assessment for the culvert, calling it "inadequate." He stated it failed to sufficiently consider the need for a security screen, noting that the bar spacing of 160mm allowed an adult to squeeze through. He described the department's response to questions about the culvert as demonstrating a "head in the sand" approach.
Why It Matters
The Noah Donohoe inquest is one of the most significant and closely followed legal proceedings in Northern Ireland in recent years. For Noah's family, and for the many people across Belfast and beyond who have followed the case, the inquest represents the best opportunity to understand what happened to a young boy whose death left a community in grief.
The evidence about the culvert's design and the adequacy of the risk assessment raises important questions about public safety infrastructure and the responsibilities of government departments to protect members of the public from foreseeable hazards.
What's Next
The inquest is expected to continue hearing expert evidence in the coming weeks. Further testimony is anticipated on the search operation, the emergency response, and other aspects of the case. The coroner will ultimately produce findings that will be scrutinised closely by Noah's family, the public, and policymakers.
