Reports of Screams Miles Away from Noah's Disappearance Site
The police were called to investigate reports of screams heard miles away from the location where Noah Donohoe went missing in north Belfast, an inquest has revealed.
Some of these reports originated from Newtownabbey, with one caller expressing uncertainty about whether the sound they heard was from "a human or animal."
Earlier in the inquest, there were accounts of screams reported near the site where Noah was last seen naked on Northwood Road in north Belfast.
However, no evidence presented at the inquest has linked any of these sounds or noises to the disappearance of the schoolboy.
The inquest was informed that police received numerous reports of unusual noises, sounds, or screams from members of the public following a public appeal for information during the search for Noah.
Evidence from Police Investigation
On Monday, testimony was provided by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Inspector Ryan McCartan, who coordinated house-to-house inquiries in north Belfast, the area where Noah was last seen in June 2020.
The inquest had previously heard that several residents reported hearing noises and possible screams outside on the evening of 21 June 2020, the day Noah disappeared, and into the early hours of the following morning.
'Very Loud Screams'
A lawyer representing the Donohoe family informed the inquest on Monday that "as many as seven people" from the vicinity where Noah was last seen reported what they heard, and that police did not seek statements from some of these individuals.
"As many as seven people"
The barrister questioned the police witness on whether he considered that "there's a bit of a theme emerging here" and if he pursued the matter accordingly.
McCartan explained that his responsibility was to coordinate the house-to-house strategy and to relay relevant information to the wider investigation, where it would be evaluated and, if necessary, acted upon by a separate witness strategy team.
A lawyer representing the PSNI emphasized that no evidence has been found linking any of the reported noises or sounds to Noah's disappearance.
The PSNI lawyer also noted that some of the public information regarding potential screams originated from Newtownabbey, County Antrim, located north of Belfast.
One report from that area, relating to the early hours following Noah's disappearance, described "very loud screams," while another referred to a "strange high pitched screaming noise."
"Very loud screams"
"Strange high pitched screaming noise"
The PSNI lawyer stated these calls came from "miles away" from where Noah went missing and highlighted how the public in various areas were responding to the police's appeal for information.
One caller from Newtownabbey described being unable to confirm whether the sound they heard in the early morning hours was from "a human or animal."
Witness Numbers and Ongoing Inquest
The inquest also heard that police had interviewed 187 witnesses within days of Noah's disappearance, and by 9 July 2020, the number of potential witnesses had surpassed 200.
The inquest is scheduled to hear from the final witness on Tuesday.
