Noah Donohoe 'Very Likely' Was Alive When He Entered North Belfast Storm Drain, Inquest Hears
Expert witnesses at the Noah Donohoe inquest have told Belfast Coroner's Court that it is "very likely" the 14-year-old schoolboy was alive when he entered the storm drain in North Belfast where his body was later discovered, and that he probably drowned as rising tidal waters filled the culvert.
The inquest, which resumed in April 2026 following the Easter break, heard detailed testimony from four expert witnesses on the circumstances of Noah's death and raised serious questions about the safety of the culvert and the adequacy of risk assessments carried out by the Department for Infrastructure.
Background
Noah Donohoe went missing from his home in South Belfast on 21 June 2020. His body was found six days later in a storm drain in North Belfast. A post-mortem examination indicated drowning as the likely cause of death. The inquest has been examining the precise circumstances of how Noah came to be in the culvert and whether his death could have been prevented.
Key Developments
Professor Carolyn Roberts, commissioned by the Coroner's Service, told the inquest that Noah likely entered the culvert alive by climbing through the vertical metal bars of the grille at the entrance, which were spaced sufficiently wide for a large child or small adult to pass through. She said he probably crawled or walked approximately 600 metres along the Premier Drive stream culvert in near-total darkness before becoming disorientated.
Professor Roberts concluded that high tide likely occurred between 11:30pm and midnight on 21 June 2020, causing water levels to rise and fill the culvert around where Noah's body was found, creating conditions for drowning. She said it was "very likely" Noah drowned at or around this time while confused in the complex tunnel system.
Dr Mark Cooper, a PSNI expert adviser, criticised the Department for Infrastructure for its "very rudimentary" risk assessment of the culvert, arguing it focused on risks to Rivers Agency staff rather than the public, despite a children's playground nearby. He described the decision not to install a security screen during a 2017 refurbishment as "crucial to this case."
Why It Matters
The inquest's findings have profound implications for the safety of similar culvert infrastructure across Northern Ireland and beyond. The case has also been followed closely by Noah's family and the wider public, who have sought answers about the circumstances of his death for nearly six years.
What's Next
The inquest is expected to continue with further evidence before the coroner delivers findings. Sources: BBC News, Irish News
