The ongoing inquest into the tragic death of Noah Donohoe has heard detailed testimony about the discovery of the schoolboy's mobile phone during the search for the missing teenager. The proceedings at Belfast Coroner's Court, now in their third week with a jury present, have focused on crucial evidence surrounding the 14-year-old's disappearance and subsequent death.
Discovery in Castleton Park
Adelaide Armstrong provided compelling evidence to the court about finding the device. She explained that while walking in Castleton Park on June 22, 2020—the day after Noah was reported missing—she noticed a black mobile phone lying in a grassy area approximately four to five feet from the park railings.
"I checked and the phone was off, and I took it home to charge and see if I could contact the owner," Ms Armstrong told the coroner's court. She noted that the screen of the phone was broken, suggesting the possibility that it had been thrown into the park area.
Attempts to Contact Family
After successfully charging the device, Ms Armstrong turned it back on and immediately noticed multiple missed calls from a contact listed simply as "Mum" in the phone's memory. "I think I actually tried ringing that number first, and was just ringing out," she testified, describing her initial attempt to reach Noah's mother directly.
When that attempt proved unsuccessful, she noticed another contact number in the device and decided to try that instead. "And then I saw another number, and I tried to ring that, that was the police," Ms Armstrong explained to the court, detailing how she eventually contacted authorities about her discovery.
Background to the Tragedy
Noah Donohoe was just 14 years old when he was found deceased in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020. The schoolboy had left his home six days earlier on his bicycle, intending to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city. A post-mortem examination later determined that his death resulted from drowning.
Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, has attended every single day of the inquest proceedings, listening intently as evidence about her son's final days is presented to the court. The emotional weight of the testimony has been palpable throughout the hearings, particularly as details emerge about the search efforts and evidence collection.
The discovery of the mobile phone represents a significant piece of evidence in understanding the timeline of events surrounding Noah's disappearance. The device's location in Castleton Park, its damaged condition, and the attempts to contact family members all contribute to the broader picture being assembled by the coroner's investigation.
As the inquest continues into its third week, further testimony is expected to shed additional light on the circumstances that led to this tragic loss of a young life in Belfast. The jury will continue to hear evidence before eventually reaching their conclusions about the events of June 2020.
