Schoolboy, 14, discovered lifeless in storm drain six days after going lacking ‘by no means had any curiosity in storm drains or the underground’, inquest hears

A close friend of Noah Donohoe has told an inquest he never demonstrated any interest in ‘storm drains or going underground.’

Charlie Rocks, who described himself as Noah’s ‘closest friend’ told the inquest at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast today he had no concerns about his friend before he went missing in 2020.

Noah was 14 when he was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast, six days after leaving home on his bike to meet two friends to travel to the Cavehill area of Belfast.

He disappeared when cycling to the Shore Road from his home at Fitzroy Avenue on 21 June 2020. His mother Fiona Donohoe has led a high-profile campaign for answers ever since.

Evidence began to be heard at the inquest last Thursday after a three-day jury selection process at Belfast Coroner’s Court.

Mr Rocks, who attended St Malachy’s College in Belfast with Noah, told the hearing: ‘He never mentioned to me anything about storm drains or going underground or being in tunnels.

‘If he had have been interested in these things, he would have talked about them as he would always have spoken about things that he was interested in throughout lockdown.

‘He appeared to be upbeat and was looking forward to ending lockdown.

‘He never appeared to be down or depressed, and only mentioned once to me that he was feeling blue.’

Noah Donohoe (pictured) was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast, six days after he went missing

Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe (pictured) outside Belfast Coroner’s Court last Thursday 

Counsel to the coroner, Peter Coll KC, asked Mr Rocks if he had had any concerns about Noah’s state of mind before he went missing.

Mr Rocks said: ‘Noah is very eccentric as a person, and I think some of the last conversations we had before he passed were certainly eccentric.

‘I think that was because of the transitional period he was going through.

‘But in terms of immediate concern, I had none at the time, and I even looking back on it now, I still don’t.’

Mr Rocks went onto describe Noah as the ‘nicest, friendliest person, funniest person.’

He said: ‘Noah was friendly with everyone in school. I joked with him that he knew everyone in school. He wasn’t the type of person to be in the popular friend group, but he knew everyone.’

He also told the hearing he believed Noah was ‘more open’ about his mental health during the Covid-19 lockdown period. 

He said: ‘He was starting to grow up and think more about his emotions. He was definitely changing, which was great.’

The inquest was shown messages exchanged between Mr Rocks, Noah and another friend, Jay Tierney. 

Ms Donohoe (right), pictured with solicitor Niall Murphy (left), has led a high-profile campaign for answers surrounding her son’s death

This is day six of the highly anticipated inquest into Noah’s death.

It was originally intended to begin in November 2025 before a jury, but was pushed back after concerns were raised that the evidence would not be finished before Christmas.

Official proceedings got underway last Thursday, with the first pieces of evidence coming from Fiona Donohoe’s initial 999 call and pre-recorded statement.

The coroner told the jury last week that they expect the inquest to last until the end of March.

The inquest continues.