Noah Donohoe Inquest: Culvert Access Described as “Unlocked and Easily Opened”

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has heard testimony detailing the accessibility of the storm drain culvert where his body was found. The jury has been told the culvert was “unlocked and could be easily opened.”

Background

Noah Donohoe, a student at St Malachy’s College in Belfast, Northern Ireland, went missing on June 21, 2020, after leaving his home on his bicycle. He was last seen heading towards the Cavehill area of the city. His body was discovered six days later in a storm drain tunnel. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as drowning. Source

Search Efforts and Culvert Discovery

Sean McCarry, regional commander for the Community Rescue Service (CRS), testified that a team of trained volunteers was deployed to the Northwood Road area after Noah’s bicycle was found. During the search, the team located a culvert on waste ground behind some houses. Source

McCarry stated that the grill covering the culvert was “unlocked and could be easily opened.” Volunteers suggested searching the culvert, believing an adult could pass through it. He communicated that the culvert was “easy to get into” and required searching by a team trained in confined space rescue. He noted that a technician of slim build was able to fit between the bars of the grill. Source

Community Involvement

The search for Noah involved at least 100 volunteers from community search and rescue organizations, who were familiar with the dense terrain of the Cavehill area. Updated information during the search led to a “fluid” situation, including a deployment of searchers to the North Queen Street area following the discovery of a phone. Source

Jurors also viewed a BBC documentary highlighting the work of the search team and the significant response from the North Belfast community, who actively participated in the search efforts. Volunteers described the search as “relentless” and driven by a “real sense of urgency.” Source

Mother’s Testimony

Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, recalled the last time she saw her son, stating she was able to hug him and tell him she loved him before he left on his bike. She expressed her concern when he became unreachable by phone. Source

Ongoing Inquest

The inquest at Belfast Coroner’s Court is currently in its fifth week as of February 2026, and continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Noah Donohoe’s disappearance and death. Source