PSNI Search for Noah Donohoe Described as 'Very Good'
A policing expert specializing in missing person cases has characterized the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) search for Noah Donohoe as "very good."
During an inquest, evidence was presented from PSNI Chief Inspector Philip Robinson, who specializes in missing person cases and has received training and conducted studies in this field both domestically and internationally.
Robinson has also trained hundreds of officers regarding missing person investigations.
He performed an internal compliance review of certain aspects of the PSNI investigation into Noah's disappearance. While identifying several areas where improvements could be made, Robinson concluded that overall, the investigation was "gripped well at an early stage."
When questioned by a barrister representing the coroner about his assessment of the investigation's substance, Robinson stated it had been
"very good, a good response"aside from some technical issues he noted.
He further explained the importance of the PSNI's decision to transfer the investigation into Noah's disappearance to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), remarking:
"In my time as a district inspector I never passed a missing person case to CID."
Regarding whether he observed any signs of police fatigue during the investigation, Robinson responded:
"No, it was actually quite the opposite."
'Missing Person Fatigue'
The inquest also heard about a separate internal review conducted by another senior PSNI officer, which raised concerns about potential "missing person fatigue" and "a lack of ownership" in some supervisory aspects of the case.
Robinson suggested that the reference to "missing person fatigue" by his colleague might have pertained to the high volume of missing person reports involving children in care who are subsequently found safe.
When asked if the police might have regarded Noah's disappearance as "just another missing person, he'll turn up," Robinson disagreed, citing the rapid classification of the case as high risk.
The PSNI designated Noah's disappearance as high risk within hours of receiving the report from his mother.
Fire Service Assistance
Previously, the inquest was informed that the fire service was not requested to assist in the search near a culvert close to where Noah was last seen. This was because the police were conducting a search operation rather than a rescue.
Robinson explained that any request for fire service assistance depends on
"what you are asking them to do and how busy they are."
He noted that, in his experience, there had been
"minimal engagement"between the PSNI and fire service in missing person cases.
When asked if any protocols exist between the PSNI and fire service regarding missing person cases, Robinson replied:
"I don't believe so."
The witness also described that police officers were working 12-hour shifts during the investigation due to the Covid-19 pandemic's impact, contrasting with their usual eight-hour shifts prior to the outbreak.
Details of Noah Donohoe's Disappearance
Noah Donohoe's body was discovered in an underground water tunnel approximately 600 metres downstream from a culvert near where he was last seen in North Belfast in June 2020.
The 14-year-old had left his bicycle on a pavement at the end of the Northwood Road cul-de-sac before his disappearance.
He was subsequently seen naked, running behind houses toward waste ground where the entrance to the culvert inlet was unlocked.
