Noah Donohoe Inquest: Police Searched Storm Drains Amidst Agitation and Schematics Discrepancies

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, who was found in a storm drain in North Belfast in June 2020, continued on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with testimony detailing the challenges faced by police during the search operation. A former police inspector revealed that the search was hampered by a large, agitated crowd and inaccurate schematics of the drainage system.

Crowd Hinders Initial Search

Retired inspector Menary, who previously managed the PSNI Hazardous Environment Search (HES) team, stated that his team encountered “hundreds of local residents in quite an agitated state” at Northwood Linear Park on March 24, 2020, three days after Noah Donohoe went missing. It took over an hour to clear the park to allow police to inspect the storm drain tunnel system. Reports indicate the crowd numbered up to 400 people, with some behaving in a “hostile fashion” despite being “mostly well-meaning.”

Challenges Navigating the Tunnel System

The HES team conducted searches both above and below ground in Linear Park. Mr. Menary testified that the schematics provided by the Department for Infrastructure regarding the water network system “did not match what we were finding on the ground.” He noted that several entry points to the storm drain tunnel were not located and appeared to have been landscaped or covered over during recent park improvements.

Inspector Entered the Tunnels

Initially, cameras were deployed into the tunnels, but obstructions necessitated Mr. Menary’s personal entry. He stated his belief that the tunnels would have been a “highly challenging place to survive if you were naked.” The search on June 24 confirmed that Noah was not in the non-tidal section of the tunnel that had been searched. During the search, officers called out Noah’s name without receiving a response.

Search Suspended Due to Rising Tides

The search was temporarily suspended on Thursday due to rising tides, coming close to the location where Noah was ultimately found. Mr. Menary clarified that the search at that point was focused on finding evidence of Noah’s presence in the tunnel, rather than a rescue operation. He too stated that the team did not have access to a drone capable of underground deployment and did not believe they lacked necessary equipment.

Cause of Death

A post-mortem examination determined the cause of Noah Donohoe’s death to be drowning. The inquest, now in its fourth week, is expected to resume on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Belfast Coroner’s Court. Belfast Live is providing live updates on the inquest, and a breaking news service is available via WhatsApp.

RTÉ also reported on the testimony of the former police inspector.