Death of Noah Donohoe


On 21 June 2020, Noah Peter Donohoe, a 14‑year‑old schoolboy from Belfast, Northern Ireland, went missing while cycling in north Belfast. He was found deceased six days later in a storm drain, and a post‑mortem examination concluded that he died by drowning. The circumstances of his disappearance and death, the handling of the police investigation, and delays in releasing key evidence have led to widespread public concern, sustained advocacy, and an inquest process that has begun but remains ongoing as of 2026.

Background

Noah Peter Donohoe was born on 25 November 2005 in Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Earlier that year, his mother Fiona had been living in Boston, where she met Emmanuel Djakpa, a Senegalese-born, US-based man who was Donohoe's father, although the two never met. Following Donohoe's death, Djakpa referred to him as his "cherished, precious son" and said he was "devastated". Fiona returned to Northern Ireland prior to Donohoe's birth, and the two later settled in south Belfast. He attended St Malachy's College and was described by family as intelligent and eager to explore new interests, including philosophy, music, and languages.

Disappearance and discovery

On 21 June 2020, Donohoe left his home on Fitzroy Avenue at approximately 3:34 am, wearing flip-flops, a T-shirt, and shorts, and carrying headphones. CCTV footage showed him turning towards Queen's University. He later returned at 4:08 am, barefoot and without his headphones.
Later that day, at approximately 5:40 pm, Donohoe left home again, telling his mother he planned to cycle to Cavehill to meet friends. He was carrying a rucksack and wearing a helmet, jacket, hoody, shorts, and trainers. CCTV footage later showed him travelling through Belfast city centre, gradually discarding personal items including his rucksack and mobile phone.
At approximately 5:59 pm, Donohoe was seen falling from his bicycle, as captured on CCTV and reported by eyewitnesses. He continued riding through residential streets in north Belfast, including York Road, Skegoniell Avenue, and Northwood Crescent. His bicycle was later found outside a property on Northwood Road, and other items including his helmet and clothing were recovered from nearby locations.
The final confirmed sighting occurred at approximately 6:08 pm, when CCTV captured Donohoe on Northwood Drive. Additional footage showed him unclothed, leaving his bicycle and walking towards a stream behind a nearby residence. The stream led to a culvert inlet on land owned by the Department for Infrastructure, which was gated and not publicly accessible. The inlet was covered by a metal grille but was not padlocked. The land was not a public park and was accessible only to certain residents.
Later that evening, at approximately 9:44 pm, Donohoe's mother contacted the police to report him missing. A coordinated search operation followed, involving emergency services and volunteers.
On 27 June 2020, Donohoe's body was recovered from a storm drain in north Belfast. A post-mortem examination concluded that he had died by drowning. As part of the wider investigation, a man was jailed for three months in January 2021 after pleading guilty to stealing Donohoe's rucksack on the day he went missing and attempting to pawn his laptop. He told police he had found the bag near Ulster University buildings in Belfast city centre. The court said there was no link between the individual and Donohoe's death.

Funeral

On 1 July 2020, a private Requiem Mass was held at St Patrick's Church in Belfast, attended by close family members including Donohoe's mother Fiona, grandparents, and aunts. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only ten people were permitted to attend. During the service, the officiating priest, Fr Michael McGinnity, relayed Fiona's tribute, describing her son as "a beautiful soul with a beautiful mind" who had "poured a whole lifetime of love into life in 14 short years."
Following the service, the funeral cortege travelled to St Malachy's College, where Donohoe had been a pupil. Students formed a guard of honour at the college gates, and members of the Community Rescue Service, who had assisted in the search effort, lined the route in tribute.
His remains were later cremated, a decision made in respect of his lifelong fear of the dark.

Inquest

The inquest into Donohoe's death has included a series of preliminary hearings and has been rescheduled multiple times. In October 2025, the coroner released the previously undisclosed CCTV footage showing Donohoe leaving his home in the early hours of the morning on the day of his disappearance. The footage had not been shared with the family until more than two years after his death.
The coroner appealed for information about Donohoe's early-morning movements, including where he went, whether he met anyone, and what happened to his missing belongings. The footage also prompted questions about whether Donohoe had gone out early on other occasions.
The full inquest, originally scheduled to begin on 3 November 2025, was postponed until 19 January 2026.

Public response

Following Donohoe's death, public concern over the handling of the investigation and inquest led to widespread demonstrations and advocacy efforts. Supporters of the Donohoe family, including the activist group "Noah's Army", organised rallies, marches, and vigils.
In April 2025, hundreds of people gathered at Custom House Square and marched to Belfast City Hall, protesting what speakers described as "negligence on an institutional scale" and demanding full transparency in the case. Earlier protests in 2022 also drew thousands to Belfast city centre, with participants calling for the release of withheld information and chanting slogans such as "Justice for Noah''."''

Legacy

Donohoe's mother, Fiona, set up The Noah Donohoe Foundation in his memory.
In September 2022, Belfast City Council agreed to name the Lagan Gateway bridge in South Belfast the Noah Donohoe Bridge, following a public campaign and more than 1,000 submissions in support of the tribute. His mother described the gesture as "beautiful and very fitting" noting that she and Noah had often walked the route together.