The jury in the inquest into the death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe has been directed to consider whether any errors by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) contributed to his death. The coroner, Mr. Justice Rooney, is in his second day of summing up evidence to the jury in Belfast.
Evidence presented during the inquest included details from residents living near the waste ground where Noah disappeared and where his body was later found in a tunnel system. Some residents indicated awareness of local access to the waste land adjacent to the tunnel entrance.
The inquest has heard criticism regarding safety measures at the tunnel system, which is maintained by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI). DfI witnesses previously stated that the department was satisfied with the safety measures around the culvert entrance. Their evidence also indicated that access to the site should have been restricted to approved maintenance staff and immediate residents, with any other public access considered trespassing.
Mr. Justice Rooney informed the jury that expert witnesses had presented differing opinions on the safety of the site. The coroner also recounted how some individuals involved in the search had called out for Noah in the culvert entrance before discovering his body.
Noah Donohoe, aged 14, disappeared in June 2020 after leaving his home in North Belfast. His body was discovered six days later in a storm drain near Northwood Road. The inquest aims to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death.