A coroner's court in Belfast has finally begun proceedings into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, offering a glimmer of hope for answers after a six-year wait for his grieving family.
The Disappearance and Discovery
Noah Donohoe, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, vanished on Sunday 21 June 2020. He was cycling from his home in south Belfast to meet friends in the north of the city when he disappeared. His absence triggered a massive, community-wide search operation involving hundreds of volunteers across Belfast.
Six agonising days later, the teenager's body was discovered in a storm drain in the Northwood Road area of north Belfast. The circumstances surrounding his death have remained deeply puzzling and have sustained intense public interest ever since.
Puzzling Final Moments
In the short time before he went missing, witnesses reported seeing the schoolboy fall from his bicycle on the Shore Road. Shortly afterwards, and most perplexingly, he was seen in the area with no clothes on. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) believe he subsequently entered the storm drain system where he was later found.
The unexplained nature of these events has been at the heart of the campaign for clarity led by Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe. She has tirelessly sought a full explanation for what happened to her son during those final, fateful hours.
A Quest for Truth and Justice
The inquest, presided over by Mr Justice Rooney, commenced at Belfast Coroner’s Court with the selection of a jury. Opening statements are expected later this week, formally starting a process the Donohoe family has long fought to see.
Fiona Donohoe has expressed her hope that the coroner's investigation will provide answers to the many outstanding questions that have haunted her since June 2020. The case has also drawn significant political attention, with North Belfast MP John Finucane issuing a statement of support as the inquest got under way.
"The Donohoe family have campaigned bravely and tirelessly in their search for truth around Noah’s disappearance and death," Mr Finucane said. "They deserve no less. I hope this process delivers the truth & justice they deserve."
The proceedings are set to be a pivotal moment, scrutinising every detail of the case in a formal legal setting, as a community and a family watch on, seeking closure.
