Noah Donohoe Inquest Hears Key Denial as Belfast Celebrates 44th City Marathon
The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe continued in Belfast on Monday, with a convicted thief denying that an image of a hand found on the schoolboy's phone belonged to him — as the city simultaneously celebrated the 44th Belfast City Marathon, a day that brought tens of thousands of people together in a powerful display of community spirit.
Background
Noah Donohoe was 14 years old when he disappeared in North Belfast on 21 June 2020. His body was found six days later in a storm drain in the New Lodge area of the city. The circumstances of his death have never been fully explained, and his family — led by his mother Fiona Donohoe — have campaigned tirelessly for a full public inquiry into what happened. The inquest, which has been running for 13 weeks, is examining the events leading up to Noah's death and the police investigation that followed.
The case has attracted enormous public attention in Northern Ireland, partly because of the mystery surrounding Noah's disappearance and death, and partly because of the dignity and determination with which his family has pursued the truth. Fiona Donohoe has become one of the most recognisable figures in Northern Ireland's public life, and her campaign has drawn support from across the community.
The inquest has heard evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including police officers, forensic experts, and members of the public who saw Noah in the hours before his disappearance. The examination of digital evidence — including images found on Noah's phone — has been a significant part of the proceedings.
Key Developments
The News Letter reported on 4 May 2026 that Daryl Paul, a thief convicted of stealing Noah Donohoe's laptop, denied during cross-examination that an image of a hand found on the schoolboy's phone belonged to him. The denial is significant because the image has been a focus of the inquest's examination of who may have had access to Noah's phone and when. Paul's evidence is part of a broader effort by the inquest to establish a timeline of events and identify any individuals who may have interacted with Noah or his belongings in the hours before and after his disappearance.
The inquest is now in its 13th week, reflecting the complexity of the case and the volume of evidence being examined. The coroner has indicated that the proceedings are expected to continue for several more weeks before a conclusion is reached.
Why It Matters
The Noah Donohoe inquest matters because it represents the pursuit of truth and accountability in a case that has left a family and a community without answers for six years. The inquest process, while slower and less powerful than a public inquiry, is the mechanism through which the facts of Noah's death will be established as fully as possible. For Fiona Donohoe and her family, every day of the inquest is a step closer to understanding what happened to her son.
The case also matters because it raises broader questions about the adequacy of the initial police investigation. The PSNI's handling of Noah's disappearance and death has been questioned by the family and their legal team, and the inquest is examining whether all reasonable investigative steps were taken in the critical early hours and days after he went missing. These questions have implications not just for this case but for public confidence in policing in Northern Ireland more broadly.
Local Impact
For Belfast and Northern Ireland, the Noah Donohoe case is a source of deep communal grief and concern. Noah was a pupil at St Malachy's College in North Belfast, a school with a long and distinguished history, and his death affected the entire school community. The New Lodge area, where his body was found, is a close-knit community that has been deeply affected by the tragedy. The inquest proceedings are followed closely by local media and by members of the public who want to see justice done for Noah and his family. The simultaneous celebration of the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday — with its message of community, resilience, and shared humanity — provided a poignant contrast to the grief that surrounds the inquest.
What's Next
The Noah Donohoe inquest is expected to continue for several more weeks. The coroner will hear further evidence from witnesses before reaching conclusions on the circumstances of Noah's death. Fiona Donohoe and her legal team will continue to press for full disclosure of all relevant evidence. The family's campaign for a public inquiry, which would have greater powers than the inquest to compel disclosure and examine systemic failures, continues alongside the inquest proceedings.
Sources: The News Letter — Northern Ireland news; Belfast Live — Belfast news
