Noah Donohoe Inquest: CCTV Evidence and Police Procedures Under Scrutiny

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, who was found in a storm drain in Belfast in June 2020, continues to reveal details about the initial police investigation and the handling of crucial evidence. Recent testimony has focused on CCTV footage of Noah on the night he disappeared and questions surrounding the efficiency of the police response.

CCTV Footage and Initial Response

A police constable testified that he viewed CCTV footage on a resident’s phone showing a youth, later identified as Noah Donohoe, cycling naked on Northwood Road shortly after 6:00 PM on June 21, 2020. The footage showed Noah abandoning his bicycle and running towards a wooded area. Despite viewing the footage, the officer stated he did not check the position of the camera or inquire about the existence of additional cameras on the property.

It was later revealed that a second camera on the property pointed in the direction of the wooded area, a detail the officer was initially unaware of. The interaction with the resident occurred around 10:30 PM on June 22, the night after Noah was last seen in the area. Noah’s body was discovered six days later hundreds of meters into a storm drain accessible from the wooded area.

Concerns Over Police Record-Keeping

Counsel for Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, raised concerns about the limited information recorded in the officer’s pocketbook, which contained only the start and end times of his 12-hour shift. While information was logged digitally, it was noted that not all relevant details, such as a subsequent search of sheds and coal bunkers, were included in the digital log.

Another officer testified that the CCTV footage could not be immediately seized because the resident was unsure how to download it. The resident also informed the officer that the timing on the CCTV was off by three minutes, but this discrepancy was not double-checked at the time.

Investigating Officer Changes

The inquest also revealed that the investigating officer assigned to Noah Donohoe’s case changed seven times within the first three days of his disappearance. This occurred during each 12-hour shift before the case was transferred to the CID.

When questioned, a police officer stated that such frequent changes were considered normal policing practice in similar cases. However, this practice raises questions about continuity and thoroughness in the initial stages of the investigation.

Background

Noah Peter Donohoe was born on November 25, 2005, in Strabane, Northern Ireland. He attended St Malachy’s College and was described as an intelligent and inquisitive student. He went missing on June 21, 2020, after leaving his home on his bicycle, and his body was discovered six days later. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, with an inquest ongoing as of February 2026.

The inquest continues.