The storm drain where 14-year-old Noah Donohoe’s body was recovered was in “excellent condition” and showed no prior signs of unauthorized access, according to testimony provided during a lengthy ongoing inquest into the teenager’s death.
Jonathan McKee, a director within the Department for Infrastructure (DFI), appeared before the court during the 14th week of the proceedings to address the safety and maintenance of the water tunnel in north Belfast. His testimony aimed to clarify the state of the infrastructure at the time of the tragedy and dispel suggestions that the area was a known hotspot for anti-social behavior or an abandoned site susceptible to misuse.
Noah, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, disappeared on June 21, 2020, after leaving his home on a bicycle to meet friends in the Cavehill area of the city. His body was found six days later, on June 27, in a culvert. A post-mortem examination subsequently determined that the likely cause of death was drowning.
Infrastructure Safety and Maintenance
During his testimony, Mr. McKee described the drain as “relatively uncomplicated for a culvert in an urban area,” asserting that it was, and remains, in good condition. A central point of the DFI’s position is that there was no systemic failure in the security of the site prior to the incident.
According to Mr. McKee, the DFI had no records of reports from the public or elected representatives expressing concerns regarding the safety of the structure’s opening screen. He further noted a lack of physical evidence—such as litter or graffiti—that would typically indicate the pipe had been frequently accessed by unauthorized persons.
The DFI director characterized the surrounding neighborhood as “vigilant and alert,” suggesting that the presence of attentive residents acted as a natural deterrent against anti-social behavior. He explicitly rejected the notion that the culvert was located in an “abandoned area of land, out of everyone’s view,” which would have made it a target for misuse.
The June 24 Forced Entry Incident
While the DFI maintained that the drain was secure, the inquest heard details of a significant breach that occurred shortly after Noah’s disappearance. On June 24, 2020, reports surfaced that a large group of youths had gained unauthorized access to the area.
Mr. McKee testified that when a DFI official arrived to investigate, they were informed that approximately 50 to 60 youths had “forced entry” to the vicinity of the culvert opening to conduct their own search for the missing teenager. This breach was not a result of a failure in the existing infrastructure, but rather a deliberate act of vandalism.
Evidence presented to the court included a photograph of a lock on a gate leading from a nearby park that had been severed, likely with an angle grinder. The lock was discovered upstream from the inlet screen. Following this incident, the DFI official replaced the damaged lock and installed an additional lock on the inlet screen access hatch to prevent further incursions.
The Dispute Over Culvert Screens
A point of contention during the inquest has been the replacement of a screen covering the culvert following Noah’s death. Mr. McKee provided technical context to explain why such screens are managed with caution and why the specific screen at the Premier Drive Stream inlet was changed.
The DFI generally discourages the use of screens because they can become blocked with debris, increasing the risk of urban flooding. There is a safety concern that a person falling into the water could become trapped against a screen, exacerbating the danger.
Mr. McKee explained the distinction between two types of installations:
- Debris Screens: Designed to catch large objects to prevent blockages further down the system.
- Security Screens: Designed specifically to prevent human entry.
The screen at the site was transitioned from a debris screen to a security screen after Noah’s death. However, Mr. McKee was emphatic that this change was a technical requirement stemming from the installation of new valves in the culvert, rather than a reactive safety measure triggered by the tragedy. “This proves important to be absolutely clear the installation of security screens was not as a result of Noah’s death,” he told the court.
Timeline of Events
The complexity of the case is reflected in the timeline of Noah’s disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his body.
| Date (2020) | Event |
|---|---|
| June 21 | Noah Donohoe leaves home on his bike to meet friends in Cavehill. |
| June 24 | Report of 50-60 youths forcing entry to the drain via an angle grinder. |
| June 27 | Noah’s body is discovered in the water tunnel; death attributed to drowning. |
| Post-June 27 | Inlet screen changed from debris to security screen due to valve installation. |
Legal and Community Impact
The inquest, now in its 14th week, seeks to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Noah’s death and whether any failures in public safety or infrastructure contributed to the event. For the family and the community in north Belfast, the proceedings represent a search for definitive answers in a case that has remained a point of intense local focus for years.
The testimony from the DFI serves to isolate the incident as an anomaly rather than a result of systemic negligence, though the court continues to examine all evidence regarding the accessibility of the water tunnels.
Disclaimer: This report is based on testimony provided during an ongoing legal inquest. Findings of fact are subject to the final determination of the coroner.
If you or a loved one are struggling with grief or loss, support is available via the Samaritans (116 123) or local bereavement services.
The inquest is expected to continue as further witnesses are called to provide evidence regarding the search operations and the environmental conditions of the culvert system. The next scheduled hearing will focus on additional witness testimonies regarding the timeline of the search.
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