The inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has entered its third week at Belfast Coroner's Court, with a jury hearing harrowing new details about the night the schoolboy disappeared in June 2020. Witnesses have come forward to describe a high-pitched scream and other unsettling incidents that occurred in the north Belfast area where Noah was last seen before his body was discovered in a storm drain six days later.
Chilling Testimony from Local Residents
Gemma McMullan, a resident of Northwood Parade, provided a detailed account to the jury. She explained that on the night of June 21, 2020, she was reading after putting her son to bed and remained awake past midnight. Suddenly, she heard a scream that startled her.
"Totally out of the blue, I heard a scream," Ms McMullan stated. "I got up, went into my bathroom, which is at the back of my house, as this is where the scream sounded like it came from. I opened the window wide and had a good look about, there was no one around. My security lights had not come on, there were no noises at all, and it was pitch black. Due to the high-pitched sound of the scream, I assumed it was either a young person or a female."
Attempted Break-In and Fearful Response
Another witness, Sandra Semple, who lived in Premier Drive near the wasteland where Noah's body was later found, described a terrifying experience in the early hours of June 22. She reported being asleep downstairs when she was awakened by a noise at her back door.
"I was in bed watching TV and shifting in and out of sleep," Ms Semple told the hearing. "At about 3am I was woken by a noise at my back door, it was the back door handle being tried. The back door was locked, and whoever was at the back door was moving the handle up and down as if to open it. This was the noise I heard."
Fearing for her safety, Ms Semple did not investigate further and instead hid under her blankets until morning, believing someone was attempting to break in.
Key Evidence and Witness Accounts
The inquest also heard from other residents who provided crucial pieces of evidence. A statement from the late Linda Patterson was read to the court, in which she described seeing a figure on a bicycle that appeared naked on the street. She alerted her husband, and later, police confirmed that CCTV from her home had captured Noah cycling past, dropping his bike, and running off.
Heather Scott testified that her son sent her a photo of a blue hoodie and trainers left outside his property in Northwood Road. She checked the items, initially thinking they belonged to someone drunk, and moved them to a derelict property next door. Upon hearing news of Noah's disappearance, she realised the clothes matched the description and contacted the police.
Last Sightings and Discoveries
Residents of Northwood Road, where Noah was last seen, shared their observations. Chris Morrow reported seeing a black bike on its side on the footpath while visiting a relative on the evening Noah went missing. The next day, he noticed a black helmet on the street and alerted police after seeing a social media post about the missing boy.
His wife Lauren's statement was also read, detailing how she saw the same black bike and later a brand-new black skater helmet near a lamppost in Northwood Crescent. Another resident, Lauren Russell, described finding a navy jacket and dark trainers with a bright Nike tick, which seemed deliberately placed.
Ongoing Inquest and Family Presence
The inquest, which is examining the circumstances of Noah's death due to drowning as determined by a post-mortem examination, has seen his mother Fiona Donohoe attend every day of the proceedings. The case continues to unfold, with the hearing set to resume on Tuesday, as authorities piece together the events leading to this heartbreaking loss.
