Witness Describes Finding Noah Donohoe's Bicycle on Evening of Disappearance
A key 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 from north Belfast.
Karen Crooks, a resident of Northwood Road in Belfast, told Belfast Coroner's Court that she found a mountain bike near her car on Sunday, 21st June 2020. Her witness statement, read to the court on Thursday, detailed how she initially noticed the bicycle before lifting it approximately an hour later and propping it up against a surface.
Social Media Post Triggers Police Contact
Ms Crooks explained that the bicycle remained in position the following night, until she saw a social media post concerning Noah's disappearance. "I realised the bike described matched the bike in my driveway," she told the jury, prompting her to contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland immediately.
This contact proved significant, as barrister for the PSNI, Donal Lunny, informed the witness that her call represented the first police entry into the Northwood Road area. This initial inquiry ultimately captured what investigators believe to be the final sighting of the fourteen-year-old before his tragic death.
Questions Over Culvert Access and Safety Measures
The testimony took a serious turn as Ms Crooks faced questioning about a storm drain culvert located on wasteland at the rear of her property. Barrister Neasa Murnaghan, representing the Department for Infrastructure, explored access points to the area containing the drain.
Ms Murnaghan outlined that the park area surrounding the storm drain was enclosed by a 1.8-metre metal fence. She suggested the only alternative access would require trespassing through either Ms Crooks's property or that of a neighbour. The witness confirmed that the wasteland could indeed be reached through a side gate on her premises.
When shown photographs of the culvert entrance, which featured metal bars described as a "debris screen," Ms Crooks revealed a concerning detail. Her five-year-old son had previously been able to fit through the bars, though he had not entered the tunnel itself.
Lack of Safety Awareness Before Tragedy
A consistent theme emerged throughout the questioning: the apparent absence of safety warnings regarding the culvert before Noah's disappearance. Ms Crooks stated unequivocally that she had never been made aware of any dangers the storm drain posed to children prior to the tragic events of June 2020.
Brenda Campbell KC, counsel for Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, pressed this point directly. "After Noah disappeared, and the searches that started... that's really the first time that the dangers of it were drawn to your attention?" she asked. Ms Crooks responded firmly: "100%, yes."
The witness further disclosed she had been unaware that the hatch to the culvert lacked a padlock before Noah vanished. She confirmed that neither the Department for Infrastructure nor any other authority had contacted her to highlight potential risks or advise keeping children away from the area.
Community Searches and Unanswered Questions
Ms Crooks described participating in community searches after Noah's disappearance, though she admitted she had not specifically searched the culvert area. She also reviewed CCTV footage from outside her home, captured moments before Noah abandoned his bicycle, but could not identify the person whose feet appeared in the corner of the recording.
When questioned about the gates to her property on the evening Noah went missing, Ms Crooks said she could not be entirely certain of their status. She noted that the gates were typically kept shut to prevent her two dogs from wandering, agreeing that anyone approaching her driveway would likely have needed to open them.
The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Noah Donohoe, who was found in the storm drain six days after leaving home to meet friends in Belfast's Cavehill area. The testimony has highlighted significant questions about residential safety measures and institutional responsibility for hazard awareness in urban environments.
