Public Appeal for Information on Noah Donohoe’s Disappearance

A public appeal for information will be launched regarding the “unusual” movements of schoolboy Noah Donohoe on the night before he went missing. The announcement follows a coroner’s decision to release CCTV footage showing Noah exiting his home in Belfast in the early hours of the morning. This initiative aims to gather more information as part of the inquest into his death.

Noah, aged 14, was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he disappeared while cycling to meet friends. His mother, Fiona Donohoe, attended a preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, where she expressed her hope that the inquest will provide answers regarding her son’s tragic fate.

During the hearing, counsel to the coroner, Peter Coll KC, indicated that the legal representatives of Ms. Donohoe had raised concerns about the necessity of a public appeal. He stated, “There is evidence on certainly at least one occasion Noah was out in the early hours of the morning in what might be described as unusual circumstances.” The aim is to determine if anyone in the public can offer additional insights, not only about that particular date but also about Noah’s general whereabouts.

Counsel for Ms. Donohoe, Brenda Campbell KC, hoped that reviewing the CCTV footage would clarify where Noah went after leaving his house. She noted, “We know from available footage that Noah left home for about 35 minutes in the middle of the night, the night before he disappeared.” Campbell highlighted that Noah left home wearing flip-flops and headphones but returned barefoot, with no sign of the items he had taken.

The lack of information about Noah’s actions during that time has left significant questions unanswered. Campbell emphasized the urgency of the appeal, stating, “If we wait until that point, someone may have an idea of the context of this footage, or we may get offers of information from the public that we will simply not be able to process within the confines of the inquest itself.”

Mr. Justice Rooney agreed on the necessity of sharing the footage and requested that the public appeal be made within the week. The court also heard that investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre has provided additional material related to Noah’s disappearance. MacIntyre, known for his undercover investigations, has financed his research through online donations and indicated he possesses information that may be pertinent to the inquest.

Coll expressed concern over the timeline, stating, “Those eight weeks are already packed with a very significant amount of work which needs to be done.” The inquest is scheduled to commence on November 3, with a further review hearing set for September 29.

Mr. Justice Rooney requested that Campbell write to MacIntyre to expedite the sharing of his materials. He remarked on the importance of having access to any relevant information before the inquest begins, stating, “It would be most disconcerting when we are very close to the start of this inquest that there are materials which Mr. MacIntyre has which he considers very relevant, which indeed may be relevant, that we don’t have access to those materials in advance of the inquest.”

Coll confirmed that MacIntyre had been cooperative during the proceedings, and the court aims to ensure that all necessary information is available to facilitate a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Noah’s disappearance.