Noah Donohoe Inquest: CCTV Gaps and Police Coordination Under Scrutiny

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, whose body was found in a storm drain in North Belfast in June 2020, continues to reveal details regarding the police search operation. Recent testimony has focused on gaps in CCTV coverage and the coordination of the investigation, raising questions about the thoroughness of the initial search efforts.

CCTV Coverage and Missed Opportunities

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer has admitted to missing Noah Donohoe on two CCTV cameras during the search, despite knowing the route the teenager travelled according to reports. The officer acknowledged that he did not identify Donohoe on footage from the cameras. This admission came during the ninth week of the inquest at Belfast Coroner’s Court.

Further scrutiny has been directed towards why a map detailing the last known location of Noah Donohoe’s phone was not immediately provided to CCTV operators as reported by the Irish News. Jurors were informed that while CCTV teams were given necessary information, maps were classified as “sensitive” under PSNI policy.

Police Coordination and Shift Changes

Inspector Bell, who was a sergeant during the initial investigation, testified about the challenges of maintaining continuity during shift changes. He stated that “inevitable slowing down or short gap” occurs when one shift ends and another begins, but emphasized that officers remained committed to finding Noah as detailed in the Standard.

When questioned about gaps in police logs, Inspector Bell clarified that these gaps did not necessarily indicate a lack of action. He asserted that officers were actively pursuing leads and conducting checks throughout their shifts.

Significant Resources Deployed

Authorities have stated that a “significant amount of officers” were dedicated to the search for Noah Donohoe in the days following his disappearance according to reports. The inquest has heard testimony indicating that the high-risk nature of the case was quickly recognized.

Background

Noah Donohoe, a student at St Malachy’s College, went missing on June 21, 2020, after leaving home on his bike to meet friends in the Cavehill area of Belfast. His body was discovered six days later in a storm drain tunnel. A post-mortem examination determined the likely cause of death to be drowning.