Witness Expresses Frustration at Noah Donohoe Inquest
A witness has stated at the Noah Donohoe inquest that he is tired of being harassed during the proceedings.
Connor McConnell made this remark in response to questioning about information he previously provided to the inquest concerning the death of the 14-year-old boy, whose body was discovered in an underground water tunnel six days after he went missing in north Belfast.
During his initial appearance in February, McConnell informed the inquest that he was at his mother's residence on Northwood Road in June 2020 when he saw the schoolboy cycling naked along the street on the day Noah disappeared.
McConnell also stated that he contacted the police that night after seeing a Facebook post from a "colleague" containing a photograph of Noah.
However, it was clarified to McConnell in February that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had not released any details about Noah's disappearance until the early hours of the following morning.
The witness was then requested to write down the name of the "colleague" on a piece of note paper and submit it to the coroner.
'I apologise'
McConnell's appearance on Wednesday followed further inquiries by the coroner's office regarding this matter.
The inquest was informed that the individual whose name McConnell provided made a statement asserting she never posted anything on Facebook about Noah Donohoe's disappearance.
She also stated that she knew McConnell from school and had last spoken to him a year prior to Noah's disappearance.
McConnell explained that he intended to write down the name of a friend with a similar name but had written the incorrect surname.
He was then given note paper to write the correct name.
Addressing the coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, McConnell said,
"I was on the stand all day, it was quite a stressful day, your honour."
He was asked to confirm that the name he provided on Wednesday was accurate in both name and spelling.
Witness Critical of Inquest
The inquest is expected to conduct further investigations based on the new name McConnell submitted.
McConnell was also questioned about his initial claim that he contacted the police on the night Noah disappeared.
The inquest received a statement from one of McConnell's friends indicating they exchanged messages about the case at the time, during which McConnell stated he contacted the police that night.
During the inquest, McConnell had asserted he contacted the police on the night of Noah's disappearance.
A barrister representing the coroner informed McConnell that he could be held liable for his testimony.
In response, McConnell said,
"I'm sick of being harassed by you people."
He added,
"I want the truth; I want to help the family."
McConnell further told the coroner,
"I'm only human"
and acknowledged that he was not claiming to be
"absolutely right."
He also criticized the absence of phone records from the relevant period, stating that obtaining them
"seems like a concise way"
to verify his evidence.
The hearing was informed that the phone company does not retain records dating back to the relevant date.
McConnell expressed dissatisfaction with the questioning style of the coroner's barrister, stating he felt
"my opinion is not in line with what you want to hear."
The coroner reassured McConnell that his involvement was appreciated.
Mr Justice Rooney also acknowledged that the witness may have made an error.
'Trespasser'
The inquest has also heard that it was not foreseeable that
"a trespasser"
would enter land connected to the schoolboy's death.
The inquest has been examining the possibility that the 14-year-old entered a structure leading to an underground drainage system after he disappeared.
Noah's body was found over 600 metres downstream.
He was last seen running between houses on Northwood Road towards private back gardens.
These back gardens adjoin land where the concrete and steel entrance to the underground drainage system is located.
The Department for Infrastructure has faced criticism during the inquest regarding the safety measures around this structure.
Dr Mark Cooper, a health and safety expert, previously testified that fencing or other
"reasonably practicable"
safety measures could have been implemented to deter unauthorized access from the Northwood Road side.
On Wednesday, during his fourth day of testimony, Jonathan McKee from the Department for Infrastructure explained that the department does not own the land where the culvert structure is situated.
McKee stated that the department obtains access rights under powers granted for drainage works.
He said that adding fencing on the land was not
"reasonably practicable"
because homeowners on Northwood Road are considered 'riparian owners' of the land.
This status grants them rights and access to the land behind their homes where the watercourse runs.
A barrister for the Department for Infrastructure asked if it was foreseeable that
"a trespasser"
could access the land.
McKee responded that it was not anticipated because the land is surrounded by a combination of high fencing, hedging, and four local properties on Northwood Road.
One theory under consideration at the inquest is that Noah may have entered private back gardens to reach the adjoining 'riparian owner' land where the underground drainage system entrance is located.
