Noah Donohoe inquest jury told to reach findings on evidence heard in court

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

The jury at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe have been told to reach their findings based on the evidence they have heard in court.

Coroner Justice Rooney started his charge to the jury of eight men and two women on Thursday, on the 21st week of the inquest, which started in January.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, was 14 when his naked body was found in the storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he left home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

The jury is charged with reaching findings including how Noah came by his death.

Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe, who has led a high profile campaign for answers around his death, has been present at Belfast Coroner’s Court for every day of the inquest.

Justice Rooney told the jury his charge would be lengthy as it covered almost six months of evidence.

He said the inquest had heard from 76 witnesses, and statements from a further 42 people, and considered maps, video footage, photographs, police logs and expert reports.

He also reminded the jury the process was a fact-finding inquiry into how Noah died, and not a criminal trial where someone is found guilty of an offence or found liable to pay damages, and not about finding fault, attributing blame or apportioning guilt.

“Your findings must be based solely on the evidence that you have heard or have seen in this court, you must ignore everything else other than this evidence. It is irrelevant,” he said.

“We are here because this inquest is required by law. You must not suppose that this automatically means that something went wrong that contributed to Noah’s death, you must not lose focus on the question we are here to consider, that is how Noah came by his death.”