Paramilitary and paedophile rumours 'led some to believe in a Noah Donohoe cover-up'
A police officer involved in the search for Noah Donohoe has stated that social media posts suggesting paramilitary or paedophile involvement in the boy's disappearance caused some individuals to believe that the police were "covering up" the circumstances surrounding the schoolboy's fate.
Philip Menary gave evidence at the inquest into Noah's death, explaining that social media "trolling" also led to public anger directed at police during the search efforts.
Noah, aged 14, was found deceased in an underground water tunnel six days after he went missing in north Belfast nearly six years ago.
There has been no evidence presented to support claims that paramilitaries or paedophiles were involved in Noah's disappearance.
The witness detailed that allegations circulated claiming the local community was "harbouring paedophiles" and that paramilitary groups from the area had a role in the disappearance.
Menary, a retired officer from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), told coroner Mr Justice Rooney that "a number of people were haranguing the police," but he clarified this did not represent the majority of those present.
The inquest also featured footage from a television documentary in which members of a community rescue team paid tribute to the large number of volunteers who attended the scene to assist in the search for Noah.
Menary, who served in the PSNI's Tactical Support Group, was part of a hazardous environment team that began searching a culvert three days after Noah's disappearance in June 2020.
Noah's body was discovered more than 600 metres downstream within the tunnel.
Police team 'couldn't just dander into' tunnel
Menary explained that the search operation in the culvert and tunnel had to comply with health and safety legislation and could not be conducted in a "willy nilly" fashion.
The witness had previously been questioned about delays and the timing of various elements of the operation before Noah's body was found by divers.
During questioning by a PSNI barrister on Monday, the coroner and jury heard about the risks and hazards the underground search team faced inside the tunnel.
Menary said his team could "not just go dandering" into the tunnel.
When asked to respond to suggestions that the risk of noxious substances was low or non-existent, the witness emphasized that the potential presence of gases was "a critical, major factor in how we proceeded."
If I'm putting people into that thing, I'm responsible for those people.
Menary also described discussions with the Department for Infrastructure early in the operation, noting that the risk of gases being released inside the tunnel was among the concerns considered.
He told the inquest there was a potential for gas release if silt within the tunnel was disturbed.
The jury viewed footage showing varying levels of silt in parts of the tunnel near where Noah's body was located.
'Hindsight's a great thing'
The inquest heard that a specialised underground tracking camera was unable to progress the day before Noah's body was found due to the silt levels.
Divers were then deployed and located Noah's body the following day.
Menary clarified a previous comment he made last week, in which he expressed that he believed it was a failure of his team not to have found Noah sooner.
He explained that his team's operation had to conclude before Noah was found because the tunnel conditions prevented further progress at that time.
When asked by the PSNI barrister about his reflections on the operation, Menary responded:
Hindsight's a great thing.
Referring to the risks faced by his team members, he added:
I counted them all out, and I counted them all back in again.
When asked if he stood by the operation, he replied:
Absolutely, 100%.
