The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe continues, with the jury set to consider whether a potential error by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) contributed to his demise. The coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, has concluded his summing up, outlining the key points for the jury to consider.
Noah disappeared in north Belfast on 21 June 2020, and his body was found six days later in an underground water tunnel close to an entrance to the tunnel system. The exact time of his death remains unknown, with expert witnesses estimating that he could have died between midnight on 21/22 June 2020 and Tuesday 23 June 2020.
The coroner has reminded the jury that the PSNI has apologised for missed investigative opportunities during the initial investigation, with the family's legal team criticising multiple 'failings' in the police investigation. The PSNI has explained that they were dealing with a high level of information during the week of the investigation, including over 600 phone calls related to the case.
Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which maintains the tunnel system, has also faced criticism over safety measures at the site. The coroner has outlined to the jury how some expert witnesses disagreed on issues about safety at the site, and how some searchers who examined the culvert entrance for the first time shouted down the tunnel, calling out 'Hello' and waiting for a response.
The jury is expected to go out to consider its verdict on Tuesday morning, with any finding of error against the PSNI dependent on any potential act or omission that took place before Noah died.