Psychologist Suggests Possible Depression Symptoms Before Disappearance
A psychologist testified at the Noah Donohoe inquest that the schoolboy may have exhibited symptoms of depression prior to his disappearance in north Belfast nearly six years ago.
However, a psychiatrist later stated that mental health was not a contributing factor in Noah's disappearance in 2020.
The focus on Monday was on Noah's mental state leading up to his disappearance, with separate statements presented by a psychologist and a psychiatrist.
Dr Louise Bowers, a forensic psychologist, described Noah as a "well-adjusted 14-year-old" based on her assessment.
She noted, however, that Noah's mother had reported behavioural changes, including tearfulness and mood fluctuations before he went missing.
Bowers also referenced Noah's engagement with the book 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, noting his interest and reaction to it.
The psychologist emphasized that her conclusions were drawn from documentation reviewed for the inquest rather than a comprehensive history of Noah.
She indicated the possibility that Noah exhibited "some traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)" and "some symptoms of depression."
Her analysis also mentioned potential "signs of destabilisation" on the day Noah disappeared.
Additionally, Bowers considered whether Noah might have experienced "a psychotic episode" in relation to his behaviour before and on the day of his disappearance.
No Evidence of Mental Health Issues, Psychiatrist States
The inquest also heard from Dr Seena Fazel, a forensic psychiatrist, who concluded there was no indication that Noah suffered from mental health problems.
Dr Fazel had previously suggested that suicide could have been a cause of death but revised his opinion after receiving further information during the inquest.
"I do not think that there were any mental health conditions prior to his disappearance," Dr Fazel stated.
"I no longer believe it was suicide."
Culvert Safety and Expert Witness Testimony
Meanwhile, an expert witness testified that he would not compromise his professional integrity during the inquest despite prior business connections with a Stormont department.
The inquest is investigating various issues, including the Department for Infrastructure's (DfI) role in maintaining a culvert near where Noah was last seen in north Belfast.
Jeremy Benn, founder of the JBA environmental, engineering, and risk management firm, and co-author of UK industry guidance on culvert safety measures, provided expert testimony.
The inquest examined safety concerns regarding the type of screen installed at the culvert entrance.
Benn supported the department's use of a debris screen rather than a security screen at the site.
It was explained that the debris screen was installed as a flood prevention measure.
Other experts testified that a security screen should have been used to prevent unauthorized access to the culvert.
The inquest considered the possibility that Noah might have entered the culvert through the wider gaps between bars on the debris screen.
It was noted that a security screen would have narrower gaps, thereby restricting unauthorized entry.
Benn had previously been questioned about his independence and potential conflicts of interest due to his business relationship with the DfI.
On Monday, Benn stated that JBA employs over 1,000 people and has an annual turnover between £80 million and £90 million.
He added that contracts with the DfI were not of "large sums," often valued around £20,000 or less.
When asked by a DfI lawyer if he would compromise his professional reputation due to his relationship with the department, Benn responded negatively.
"No, they're not [large sums]," Benn said regarding the contract values.
Benn emphasized that he would not provide "partisan" evidence for any client, as the company is committed to delivering "fact-based advice" to both public bodies and private clients.
Responding to criticism about his independence related to industry guidance on culvert safety, Benn explained he was one of several contributors and stated that such criticism was "not justified at all."
Discovery of Noah's Body
Noah's body was recovered in June 2020 from an underground water tunnel near the M2 motorway in north Belfast, located more than 600 meters downstream from the culvert entrance beside a residential area on Northwood Road.
