Noah Donohoe: Death consistent with drowning, inquest hears

At an inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe, a pathologist has stated that there is no indication that any other individuals were involved in the boy’s demise. The pathologist confirmed that Noah’s cause of death was consistent with drowning. The boy’s body was discovered nearly a week after he went missing in June 2020, found in a storm drain.

Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, attended the hearing alone and listened as the court was presented with detailed and distressing descriptions of her son’s condition when his body was recovered. The coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, acknowledged that the evidence being given would be particularly difficult for Mrs. Donohoe to hear. Dr. Marjorie Turner, who performed the postmortem examination, detailed the findings during her testimony, describing the presence of bruises and abrasions across Noah’s body, including his forehead, hands, knees, and elbows.

The bruises and marks on Noah’s body were said to be consistent with multiple falls or stumbles, possibly occurring while he was inside the drain. Dr. Turner noted significant bruising on his forehead and ruled out the injury being caused by a prior bicycle accident, instead suggesting it was more likely due to injury sustained while in the drain. Additionally, she mentioned that Noah might have been confused or disoriented in the “pitch black” environment of the drain. Toxicology reports showed no presence of drugs in his system. It was suggested that Noah’s death likely occurred within hours of him going missing and that he was probably deceased for quite some time before his body was found.

Other expert witnesses supported these conclusions. Professor Jack Crane, former State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, remarked on Noah’s possible disorientation in the drain, unable to find his way in or out. Forensic pathologist Nathanial Cary emphasized the difficulty of the harsh environment described as a “cold confused space” for Noah. All expert witnesses agreed there was no evidence indicating that a third party was involved in Noah’s death.

Additional testimony was provided by Dr. Peter McSorley, who attended the scene shortly after the body was discovered. He described the physical state of Noah’s body, noting reddening of the skin on his forehead, peeling of hands and feet, blackened areas on his knees, and swelling on his forehead. Dr. McSorley found no signs of assault. On his assessment, the boy’s body had been submerged in water for several days, and the time of death might have been as much as six days prior to the discovery. The inquest is scheduled to continue tomorrow

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More