A jury has delivered a verdict in the inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, more than six years after he was found dead in an underground water tunnel in Belfast.
The jury found it was possible, but not probable, that failings by the Department of Infrastructure regarding the tunnel contributed to his death. They also identified 13 failings by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), but concluded these did not contribute to Noah's death.
The inquest heard that Noah died from drowning. The coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, ruled out drugs, foul play, suicide, or a psychotic experience, stating there was no evidence to support such findings. While no drugs were found in Noah's body during the post-mortem, expert witness evidence suggested the possibility of drugs having been in his system could not be completely excluded, as they can degrade after a few days.
There was no evidence of third-party involvement or any link to loyalist paramilitaries. The PSNI accepted missing some investigative opportunities and apologised to Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe.
Many questions surrounding the unusual events leading up to Noah's disappearance remain unanswered, including why he left his home barefoot in the early hours of the day he disappeared and why he was naked when last seen near the water tunnel entrance.