Jury Begins Deliberation in Noah Donohoe Inquest
The jury in the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe has retired to consider its verdict. Noah, aged 14, disappeared and died in north Belfast in June 2020. His body was discovered in an underground water tunnel near the M2 motorway six days after he went missing.
The location of the body was more than 600 metres downstream from the entrance to the tunnel system, which is situated close to Northwood Road, the area where Noah was last seen.
Inquest Proceedings and Jury Composition
The inquest has been conducted under the direction of High Court judge Mr Justice Rooney, with a jury composed of eight men and two women. The jury has been presented with 10 questions to address as part of their deliberations.
Before the jury retired at 10:16 GMT on Tuesday, the coroner emphasized the key issue for consideration:
"In what circumstances did Noah come by his death?"
He instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court, advising them to disregard any rumours or speculation encountered outside the courtroom.
"There is no pressure of time,"Mr Justice Rooney told the jury,
"take as long as you require to reach your verdict which must be unanimous."
Details of the Inquest and Issues Explored
The inquest began at the end of January, with Mr Justice Rooney completing his summing up on Monday. The five-month hearing examined various aspects, including Noah's behaviour prior to his disappearance and the investigation carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into both his disappearance and subsequent death.
Among the 10 questions for the jury to consider is whether the PSNI made any errors that contributed to Noah's death. Additionally, the maintenance and safety of the tunnel system by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure have been scrutinized, particularly regarding public access and safety measures.
Family Presence and Court Atmosphere
Noah's mother, Fiona, attended the court accompanied by a family member as the jury left to deliberate their verdict.
