Testimony from Woman Attempting to Sell Noah Donohoe's Laptop
The jury at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe has heard evidence from Maria Nolan, a woman who attempted to sell the schoolboy's laptop in the days following his disappearance.
Ms. Nolan, who was convicted of handling stolen goods, was captured on CCTV in June 2020 trying to trade the laptop at a Belfast Cash Converters store, accompanied by her accomplice, Daryl Paul.
During the inquest, Nolan, a recovering drug addict, stated she has no knowledge regarding Noah being injected with drugs prior to his disappearance and death.
Previously, Nolan had informed police that she was told the teenager had been injected with heroin by someone within the homeless community; however, she later described this as a "rumour" and confirmed she had no concrete information about Noah's disappearance.
Noah Donohoe, aged 14, was found deceased six days after he went missing in North Belfast in June 2020.
To date, no evidence has emerged to support claims that Noah was injected with drugs before his disappearance.
At the time of Noah's disappearance, Nolan was residing at a hostel near Noah's home in South Belfast but has maintained that she has no information about the circumstances surrounding Noah's disappearance.
Convictions Related to Noah's Stolen Belongings
Nolan was convicted in 2022 of handling stolen goods after attempting to pawn Noah's stolen laptop while the boy was still missing.
In a separate case, Daryl Paul pleaded guilty to stealing a rucksack containing Noah's laptop and schoolbooks on the day Noah disappeared.
The rucksack had been discarded by Noah while cycling from Belfast city centre towards the Northwood Road area of North Belfast, where he later disappeared in June 2020.
The court proceedings involving Nolan and Paul were specifically related to the theft of Noah Donohoe's belongings and were not connected to any other aspects of the investigation into the boy's disappearance and death.
Details of How Nolan Acquired the Laptop
On Wednesday, Nolan provided testimony about how she came into possession of Noah's laptop.
She explained that Paul informed her he had a laptop he could sell to raise money to purchase drugs.
The laptop was Noah's and was among several items reported missing, including his backpack and coat.
Pressure to Sign Statement and Legal Meetings
Nolan told the inquest she felt pressured to sign a statement claiming to have information about what happened to Noah.
The inquest heard she attended multiple meetings involving her own solicitor and a solicitor representing the Donohoe family following Noah's disappearance and death.
Members of Nolan's family and an aunt of Noah also attended these meetings.
She subsequently signed a statement indicating she had information about Noah's case, which warranted further police investigation.
However, Nolan stated during the inquest that she did not author the statement and that it contained language she would not have used.
"I have no further information."
"I don't know what happened to Noah,"
She elaborated on why she signed the statement, citing pressure during the joint meetings with her legal team, relatives, and the Donohoe legal team and family members.
"I signed the statement because I felt under pressure,"
Nolan also expressed feeling "scared" at the time due to abuse she experienced within the community.
"I don't know anything about Noah's disappearance and death."
Awareness Limited to Rumours and Speculation
The witness clarified that she had no first-hand knowledge of the case and was only aware of rumours circulating within the homeless and drug addiction communities following Noah's disappearance and death.
She acknowledged a history of "long-standing issues" with addiction.
In her statement to the inquest, Nolan recounted that an aunt of Noah Donohoe contacted her mother, and they agreed to attend a meeting with the Donohoe family solicitor and a relative.
She described feeling pressured due to "all the hate" directed at her from individuals in the drug addiction and homeless community, as well as from members of the public.
Nolan stated she has been "clean" from addiction since November of the previous year and expressed fear that her inquest appearance would provoke "more hate towards me."
"I feel desperately sad for Noah's mummy. I hope she gets answers."
