Schoolboy Noah Donohoe, from Belfast, was tragically found dead in a storm drain after going missing from his home back in June 2020 – his mother’s call to police was played at the inquest today
The mother of a teen who was found dead in a storm drain says she found him crying in his room just before he went missing, the inquest heard.
Noah Donohoe’s mother told police she asked her son why he had been crying in his room shortly before he left home.
The jury in the inquest into the death of the Belfast schoolboy has been played the call Fiona Donohoe made to police on the night her son went missing in June 2020.
She said: “I asked him why he was crying. He turned to me and said he was laughing.”
His mother said her son had never gone missing before.
She said her son had been “overprotective” and kept giving her hugs and telling her he loved her earlier in the day.
A jury of nine men and two women were selected on the fourth day of the process at Belfast Coroner’s Court.
The opening statements and first evidence was then heard.
Noah was 14 when he was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020 following a high-profile search.
His mother, who has led a high-profile campaign for answers, has been in court for every sitting this week.
She was accompanied by family members on Thursday morning to watch the jury ballot.
Presiding coroner Mr Justice Rooney gave an outline of the case to the jurors, and said while they may have heard details previously, it is “absolutely imperative” they remain neutral and do not have a predetermined view of what happened.
He told the jury they must deliver their findings on the evidence “you see and hear in court”, and they “must ignore” publicity around the proceedings.
Counsel for the coroner Peter Coll KC then delivered his opening statement, telling the jury they would see CCTV footage which showed Noah cycling in north Belfast wearing no clothes on the evening he went missing.
The barrister said the jury would hear evidence that the bars on the storm drain were far enough apart for Noah to pass through.
He said Noah’s disappearance was “completely out of character”.
The coroner said the inquest would likely last until late March.
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