Jurors at an inquest have been shown CCTV footage of a schoolboy cycling naked before he was found dead in a storm drain days later.
Noah Donohoe’s body was discovered in north Belfast in June 2020 – six days after he vanished while travelling to meet friends in the Cavehill area of the Northern Irish city.
Now, an inquest is being held examining the circumstances around the 14-year-old’s disappearance and death.
This afternoon, the inquest was shown nine minutes of non-continuous footage from Noah’s tragic final journey.
He is first seen leaving his apartment block in Fitzroy Avenue with his bike, wearing a cycling helmet and a backpack.
Through a series of clips, Noah is then spotted cycling through the city centre and then towards the north of the city.
In the last footage of the 14-year-old before he disappeared, he is seen riding the bike naked.
The jury then heard evidence from a motorist who saw Noah on the same evening after he had fallen from his bike.
Noah Donohoe (pictured) was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast, six days after he went missing
Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe (pictured) outside Belfast Coroner’s Court last Thursday
The inquest was shown a series of social media messages between Noah, Charlie Rocks and another friend – Jay Tierney (pictured leaving Belfast’s coroners court)
Donna Blain first contacted police during the period between Noah going missing and his body being discovered and then gave a statement 10 months after the schoolboy’s death.
The inquest heard she was driving from the Shore Road onto North Queen Street when she saw Noah, who appeared to have fallen from his bike and was lifting it back off the ground.
She said she did not know what caused the fall.
The witness told the inquest that Noah was looking around as if embarrassed before he cycled off.
She said he left his coat behind on the ground.
Ms Blain added she did not see anything that gave the impression that Noah had been injured.
Belfast Coroner’s Court also heard from Charlie Rocks, who described himself as Noah’s ‘closest friend’.
Mr Rocks, who attended St Malachy’s College in Belfast with Noah, told the hearing: ‘He was the nicest, friendliest person, funniest person.’
Telling the inquest he had no concerns about his friend’s mental heath, Mr Rocks said Noah ‘never appeared to be down or depressed’.
Paying tribute, Mr Rocks said Noah was the ‘smartest kid, he was always asking questions’.
He added: ‘Noah was friendly with everyone in school. I joked with him that he knew everyone in school.
‘He wasn’t the type of person to be in the popular friend group, but he knew everyone.’
Mr Rocks continued: ‘He never mentioned to me anything about storm drains or going underground or being in tunnels.
‘If he had have been interested in these things, he would have talked about them as he would always have spoken about things that he was interested in throughout lockdown.
‘He appeared to be upbeat and was looking forward to ending lockdown.
‘He never appeared to be down or depressed, and only mentioned once to me that he was feeling blue.’
Counsel to the coroner Peter Coll KC asked Mr Rocks if he had had any concerns about Noah’s state of mind before he went missing.
Mr Rocks said: ‘Noah is very eccentric as a person, and I think some of the last conversations we had before he passed were certainly eccentric.
‘I think that was because of the transitional period he was going through.
‘But in terms of immediate concern, I had none at the time, and even looking back on it now, I still don’t.’
The inquest was shown a series of social media messages between Noah, Mr Rocks and another friend – Jay Tierney.
Mr Rocks told the inquest that he believed Noah had become ‘more open’ about his mental health during the Covid lockdown period.
He said: ‘He was starting to grow up and think more about his emotions. He was definitely changing, which was great.’
Mr Rocks told the hearing that Noah had asked him if he wanted to read the self-help book 12 Rules for Life, by the author Jordan Peterson, but that he had declined to read it.
Under questioning from barrister for the PSNI Donal Lunny, Mr Rocks said he had been unaware that Noah had occasionally stayed overnight alone in his Belfast apartment.
Barrister for Fiona Donohoe, Brenda Campbell KC, asked Mr Rocks if he had ever known Noah to struggle with his sexuality.
He responded: ‘He was straight from what I knew.’
The court was shown messages between Noah and Mr Rocks when they both discussed liking the same girl.
Mr Rocks said: ‘I was just a teenager and so was he.
‘It was important for me with him that I made it clear that it was him first for me, and if he had any issue with it, I would have stepped away because he was so important to me and I know that I was important to him.’
Noah’s inquest was originally intended to begin in November 2025 before a jury, but was pushed back after concerns were raised that the evidence would not be finished before Christmas.
Official proceedings got underway last Thursday, with the first pieces of evidence coming from Fiona Donohoe’s initial 999 call and pre-recorded statement.
The coroner told the jury last week that they expect the inquest to last until the end of March.
The inquest continues.
Theories Surrounding the Mysterious Death of Noah Donohoe
The tragic death of 14-year-old Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe continues to raise difficult questions, nearly six years after his body was discovered in a storm drain. As a fresh inquest examines CCTV footage and new evidence, several competing theories have emerged about what may have happened in the hours before his death.
Noah disappeared on 21 June 2020 after leaving home on his bicycle to meet friends. CCTV later captured him behaving unusually — discarding his belongings and eventually cycling naked through unfamiliar parts of the city. His body was found six days later in an underground drainage system, and a post-mortem confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
1. The accident or medical episode theory
The primary position presented by investigators is that Noah acted alone and that no evidence of third-party involvement has been found. The coroner has repeatedly stated there is currently no evidence suggesting anyone else was involved.
Some experts believe a fall from his bicycle — which was captured on CCTV — may have caused a head injury, confusion, or disorientation. This could explain his unusual behaviour and why he may have entered the storm drain himself.
2. Mental health or emotional distress
Testimony at the inquest revealed that Noah had been unusually emotional before his disappearance, including crying in his room and showing behaviour described as “out of character.”
Investigators are examining whether psychological distress or a sudden mental health crisis could have contributed to his actions on the day he vanished.
3. Third-party involvement or foul play
Despite the official position, Noah’s family and supporters have questioned whether key evidence was overlooked. His mother has raised concerns about gaps in CCTV footage and a photograph found on his phone that appeared to show someone else’s hand.
There were also claims that a prisoner had confessed to the killing, although police said the allegation was thoroughly investigated and no supporting evidence was found.
4. Environmental and access questions
Another unresolved issue is how Noah accessed the storm drain. The entrance was covered by a metal grille that was not locked at the time, raising concerns about safety and how a teenager could have known about the location.
Investigators also noted that the drainage system is dangerous, with water levels rising and falling with tidal changes.
An unanswered mystery
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow the inquest to establish the facts. However, the combination of unusual CCTV footage, missing items, and unanswered questions has made the case one of the most unusual missing-person investigations in Northern Ireland.
For Noah’s family, the hope remains simple: clarity, accountability, and the truth.
