An inquest jury has viewed CCTV footage of a teenage schoolboy riding his bicycle naked just before he disappeared. Noah Donohoe, aged 14, was discovered deceased in a storm drain in June 2020, six days after departing from home on his bike to meet friends in Belfast. The ongoing inquest is investigating the events surrounding Noah’s vanishing and demise, showcasing nine minutes of video snippets from the night he went missing.
Initially, Noah is observed leaving his residence on Fitzroy Avenue with his bike, donning a cycling helmet and a backpack. The footage then captures him cycling through the city center and heading north. In the final clip before his disappearance, he is seen riding the bike unclothed.
Subsequently, a motorist testified that she encountered Noah after he had fallen from his bike. Donna Blain reported this incident during the search period and provided a statement months after Noah’s death. She witnessed Noah picking up his bike after the fall without knowing the cause.
The witness described Noah as looking embarrassed and leaving his coat behind on the ground before cycling away. She mentioned no signs of injuries on Noah. Earlier, a close friend of Noah, Charlie Rocks, shared positive memories of Noah as a friendly and inquisitive individual from their time at St Malachy’s College.
Rocks mentioned that Noah never discussed underground places or tunnels with him, and he believed Noah was upbeat and looking forward to the end of lockdown. Rocks also noted that Noah was becoming more open about his mental well-being during the lockdown period. The inquest presented social media exchanges between Noah, Rocks, and another friend, shedding light on Noah’s evolving emotions.
During questioning, Rocks revealed that he was unaware that Noah occasionally stayed overnight in his Belfast apartment. When asked about Noah’s sexuality, Rocks confirmed that Noah was straight to his knowledge. The court also reviewed messages between Rocks and Noah regarding a mutual interest in a girl, emphasizing the importance of their friendship.
