The inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe continued this week, more than five years after he disappeared. Noah was 14 years old when he went missing in June 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He left home on his bicycle on a Sunday afternoon. In his backpack was a laptop and a copy of Jordan Peterson’s book, 12 Rules for Life. He never returned.  

Six days later, his body was found in a storm drain. A post-mortem examination concluded that Noah had drowned. A police investigation was launched, but no criminal charges have ever followed. 

In recent weeks, a long-delayed inquest has heard evidence into the circumstances surrounding Noah’s disappearance and death. Jurors have listened to the original 999 call made by Noah’s mother, Fiona. Friends have discussed his intelligent, quirky personality; witnesses have given evidence about their recollections of that day; and police officers involved in the original investigation have begun outlining their actions and decisions. 

Ciara Doherty is joined by Declan Harvey, who has been covering the inquest for BBC Northern Ireland and through a dedicated daily podcast, to explain what the jury has heard so far and what evidence is still to come. 

📺 Follow the inquest: BBC ‘State of Us’ series 

Declan Harvey reportS for BBC Northern Ireland as part of the State of Us series, with regular updates from the inquest. 

👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38qrXdJ0lkN8zTvJ2p4IR-Ykv3bYgwgP