Belfast inquest hears key testimony about discovery of Noah Donohoe's bicycle
A witness has provided crucial testimony at the ongoing inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe, revealing she discovered the schoolboy's bicycle on the very evening he went missing. Karen Crooks, a resident of Northwood Road in Belfast, told Belfast Coroner's Court that she found the bike near her car on Sunday 21 June 2020.
Discovery of the bicycle and subsequent police contact
Ms Crooks detailed in her witness statement, which was read to the court on Thursday, that she initially noticed the bicycle and lifted it approximately one hour later. She observed that the bicycle remained in her driveway the following night. It was only after seeing a social media post about Noah's disappearance that she realised the significance of her discovery.
"I realised the bike described matched the bike in my driveway," Ms Crooks told the jury, explaining her subsequent decision to contact the police.
Questioning about access to the storm drain area
The witness was then questioned by Nessa Murnaghan, barrister for the Department of Infrastructure, about access to the culvert where Noah's body was ultimately discovered. Ms Crooks informed the jury that the area of wasteland containing the storm drain could be accessed through a side gate at her property.
Ms Murnaghan highlighted that a 1.8-metre metal fence surrounded the park area containing the drain, suggesting the only alternative access would require trespassing through Ms Crooks's property or that of a neighbour.
Details about the culvert and community search efforts
During her testimony, Ms Crooks was shown a photograph of the culvert entrance. Ms Murnaghan identified the metal bars across the entrance as a "debris screen". The witness revealed that her five-year-old son had been able to fit through these bars, though he had not entered the tunnel itself.
When asked whether she believed it was important for the culvert hatch to remain unlocked in case a child became swept into it, Ms Crooks responded: "That is not something I would ever have thought about."
Ms Crooks also disclosed that she had searched the area around her property after Noah's disappearance and participated in community search efforts, though she confirmed she had not searched the culvert itself.
Background to the case
Noah Donohoe was just fourteen years old when he was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after leaving his home on his bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area. The inquest into his tragic death is now in its second week of proceedings at Belfast Coroner's Court, with this testimony representing a significant development in understanding the timeline of events surrounding his disappearance.
