+34
The inquest into Noah Donohoe's death found the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) failed to identify the tunnel entrance as a public access point, contributing to the teenager's ability to enter the dangerous water tunnel. The jury also criticised the police for errors in the investigation's handling.
have found that Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure “erred” in its management of a tunnel entrance close to where he was last seen alive. Noah was found dead in an underground water tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020.
He had left home six days earlier to meet friends, with his disappearance sparking a major search operation. On Tuesday, the jury of seven men and two women found there was no warning signs around the entrance to culvert entrance to the tunnel. Irishman in Lapland: ‘I bought a house for €32,000.
It’s a magic place to live’ A decision by DfI to install a debris screen in 2017 meant “as a consequence” he was able to enter the culvert via the screen, they found.
“DfI erred in not identifying the area around the entrance as a location the public could possibly access,” the foreman of the jury told the court. The ruling followed five days of deliberations.
However, there were separate criticisms by the jury of the police handling of the investigation. The inquest began hearing evidence at Belfast Coroner’s Court in January and was expected to last three months. It resumed on Monday following an “unprecedented” late night sitting in July, which led to an adjournment over the summer recess. Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, has led a high-profile campaign for answers backed by supporters calling themselves ‘Noah’s Army’.
She sat at the back of the court, accompanied by her sister, and wiped tears from her eyes as the jury foreman delivered the findings. Fiona Donohoe the mother of Noah Donohoe, arriving at Belfast Coroner's Court with her legal team on Tuesday. Photograph: Rebecca Black/PA Wire The public gallery of court 13 at Laganside court complex was filled with supporters, some of whom wore the ‘Noah’s Army’ navy and white sweaters.
Among the questions they had to consider was the date of Noah’s death and whether any errors made by police contributed to his death. The maintenance of the underground water tunnel system by Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure, in terms of its public access and safety measures, was also among the questions being examined by the jury.
Noah, a student at St Malachy’s College, had cycled across the city from his home in south Belfast to the Northwood Road area of north Belfast on Sunday, June 21st, 2020. He abandoned his bicycle on a pavement at Northwood Road close to waste ground where a culvert entrance to an underground water system is located. His body was found more than 600m downstream in the tunnel.
He had previously been seen falling off his bicycle, as well as discarding his clothes and cycling naked. The jury was also asked to explain why Noah “behaved as he did” after he left the apartment he shared with his mother at 5.40pm. The foreman of the jury replied on Tuesday: “No, the evidence is insufficient to enable us to reach a conclusion”.
The inquest has heard evidence from 76 witnesses, statements from a further 42 people, as well as maps, video footage, photographs, police logs and expert reports. In his lengthy summing up of the case earlier this year, coroner Kevin Rooney said that any finding of error against police could only be made in relation to any potential act or omission that took place before Noah died.
Experts have said Noah may have died on the same day he went missing, Sunday, June 21st, 2020, or could potentially have survived until Tuesday. It was also suggested there was a possibility, though unlikely, that he was still alive on Wednesday, June 24th. The jury was also asked if there were other factors “which have impacted upon the ability of this inquest to reach a conclusion on any aspect relevant to the circumstances of the deceased’s death?
” In response, the jury foreman listed police failing which included failure to review contemporaneous CCTV footage; failure to follow up all investigative opportunities, and CCTV strategy and execution “not rigorously applied”. There were also delays in identifying the culvert as a place to search, the jury found. In June, the coroner directed jurors to rule out certain outcomes due to insufficient evidence.
Significantly, the jury could not find Noah was assaulted after he went missing or that there was any third-party involvement; they were also not permitted to find he was a victim of child exploitation. Rooney also said the jury was not permitted to find he was under the influence of drugs, going through a psychotic episode or that he had taken his own life.
Noah Donohoe inquest: Jury finds no police failings that may have contributed to his deathMinister for Agriculture has largest farmlands among TDs and SenatorsNoah Donohoe inquest: Jury finds no police failings that may have contributed to his deathIran’s allies squeeze Saudi Arabia ‘on all fronts’, leaving crown prince facing a crisis
Stormont Dfi Criticism Noah Donohoe Case Tunnel Management Failure Inquest Findings Police Investigation Errors
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Noah Donohoe inquest deliberations resume in Belfast after juror dischargedJury must decide whether PSNI made errors in search for teenager and whether these could have contributed to his death
Read more »
Jury in Noah Donohoe inquest to resume deliberations after juror dischargedJudge tells jury to avoid news and social media as they consider the circumstances around teenager’s death
Read more »
Matthew Rhys Breaks Ground with Triple Lead Acting Emmy Wins Amid a Night of CelebrationsActor Matthew Rhys achieved a historic Emmys headline by winning Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "Widow's Bay" and Lead Actor in a Limited Series for "The Beast in Me," making him the first male performer to win all three lead categories. The Emmy ceremony also saw Noah Wyle win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for "The Pitt," while "Widow's Bay" swept 14 of 19 nominations. Additionally, Jean Smart and Alison Janney tied for most acting Emmy wins with Julia Louis‑Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman. The event underscored the growing commitment to quality television across genres.
Read more »
Leeds United 4 Newcastle United 1Leeds United climbed to third in the Premier League table after a dominant 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. The match saw a Lewis Miley own goal open the scoring, followed by strikes from Jayden Bogle, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor. Newcastle's Bazoumana Toure scored a late consolation goal.
Read more »