Inquest Hears Disturbing CCTV Footage of Noah Donohoe Before Tragic Death
An ongoing inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has heard deeply troubling evidence concerning CCTV footage captured before the teenager was discovered deceased in a storm drain in north Belfast. The proceedings at Belfast Coroner's Court have revealed that surveillance cameras recorded the boy completely unclothed during his final movements, raising significant questions about the circumstances leading to this tragedy.
The Disappearance and Discovery
Noah Donohoe vanished on 21 June 2020 while cycling from his family home in south Belfast to meet friends. His mother, Fiona Donohoe, last saw him at approximately 5.30pm that evening. When he failed to return home by 8pm as agreed and did not answer his phone, she grew increasingly concerned, eventually reporting him missing to the police at 9.45pm.
Tragically, six days later, on 27 June, the teenager's body was found in a storm drain in the north of the city. The inquest has now become a focal point for examining the events surrounding his disappearance and death, with his mother delivering a powerful pre-recorded statement that highlighted numerous serious concerns about the investigation.
Mother's Statement Reveals CCTV Anomalies and Investigation Gaps
In her emotional testimony played to the court, Fiona Donohoe detailed her profound distress over the CCTV evidence retrieved by authorities. She explained that different clips show a disturbing progression: Noah first without his bag, then without his coat, and finally totally naked. "I have no explanation for what the CCTV that is held shows," she stated, questioning why footage from other locations had not been obtained to provide a clearer picture of his final journey.
Ms Donohoe also expressed horror and confusion about how her son accessed the storm drain where he died. "I am horrified at the idea that the grill positioned at the entrance the storm drain was such that a child... could simply walk through a grill or open a hatch," she told the inquest. "I have no idea how Noah could have known about the storm drain location or entrance."
Questions Over Police Investigation and Evidence
The grieving mother raised multiple issues with how the police handled the case. She revealed that officers had requested her email address and password, which she now views as an unwarranted invasion of privacy. She also strongly disagreed with a police theory that Noah had suffered a concussion from a head injury, stating her attendance at a press conference on 24 June was not an endorsement of this hypothesis. "I felt ambushed," she added.
Further undermining her confidence in the investigation was the discovery of a mysterious photograph on Noah's phone. After commissioning her own expert to examine the device, she found an image of someone's hand taken at 6.50pm on 21 June—precisely when she had been trying to call him. This raised critical questions about who had possession of the phone at that time.
Additional unanswered questions included why houses near the storm drain were not searched, and how Noah's personal belongings—including his laptop and a copy of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life that was "never out of his hand"—were later found elsewhere. These inconsistencies have left the family seeking clarity and accountability through the inquest process.
The proceedings continue as authorities examine the full circumstances of this heartbreaking case that has deeply affected the Belfast community and raised important questions about missing persons investigations and public safety infrastructure.
