In a tense and highly charged day at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast, the inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe erupted into fresh controversy as a PSNI officer’s startling testimony left more questions than answers about the police response to the schoolboy’s disappearance.

The atmosphere, already heavy with emotion, shifted dramatically during cross-examination as concerns over unanswered phone calls, mishandled evidence, and critical delays once again took centre stage — with the grieving mother Fiona Donohoe sitting quietly at the back of the court, listening intently to every word about her beloved son’s final hours.

But it was one officer’s blunt admission — “I didn’t see the point in lying” — combined with revelations about how Noah’s clothing was processed that has sent shockwaves through the courtroom and reignited deep public distrust in the authorities.

The Inquest That Has Gripped Northern Ireland

Noah Donohoe, a bright and popular 14-year-old from Belfast, vanished on June 21, 2020, while cycling in the Northwood area of the city. His body was discovered six days later in a storm drain culvert in the River Lagan, sparking one of the most controversial missing persons cases in Northern Ireland’s history.

What began as a desperate search by family, friends and the community quickly turned into accusations of police failings, with Fiona Donohoe and her legal team repeatedly highlighting inconsistencies in the PSNI’s early response.

The inquest, which has been running intermittently for months, has exposed alleged procedural weaknesses, from delayed specialist involvement to questions over evidence preservation. Yesterday’s session was supposed to be procedural — but it quickly descended into intense courtroom drama.

The Bombshell Testimony That Changed Everything

Under pointed cross-examination by counsel for the Donohoe family, a PSNI officer involved in the recovery and processing of evidence found near where Noah was last seen was pressed on critical details.

When questioned about the handling of clothing items recovered from the street — items believed to belong to Noah — the officer made the explosive statement that has dominated headlines: “I didn’t see the point in lying.”

The remark came as he defended his account of events against suggestions that police statements and evidence logs contained serious discrepancies.

Further testimony revealed that clothing recovered from the area was placed into evidence bags that were not properly sealed, raising immediate fears of contamination or even loss of crucial forensic material. One officer explicitly denied that items had been “lost” by police, insisting they were secured in a patrol car boot to protect them from rain.

However, the inquest heard there was “no way of discerning” whether additional items such as headphones or flip-flops were properly logged or returned in the same bags, fuelling suspicions of sloppy evidence handling in the critical early hours and days.

Legal observers described the moment as a “devastating own goal” for the PSNI, with one senior source telling Daily Mail: “When an officer has to say he didn’t see the point in lying, it tells you how much pressure is on the credibility of the entire operation.”

Fiona Donohoe’s Silent Vigil

Throughout the explosive exchanges, Noah’s mother Fiona sat composed but visibly emotional in the public gallery. The bereaved mum has become a symbol of dignity and determination, attending almost every session as she fights for the full truth about what happened to her son.

Friends of the family say Fiona has never accepted the narrative that Noah simply wandered into the culvert system alone. She has repeatedly called for a full public inquiry, believing systemic failures and possible third-party involvement have been downplayed.

One close family friend told Daily Mail: “Fiona is there for Noah. Every inconsistency, every mishandled piece of evidence, feels like another betrayal. She just wants answers so she can finally lay her boy to rest with the truth.”

Unanswered Calls and Timeline Scrutiny

The inquest has repeatedly returned to the critical hours after Noah was last seen. Witnesses described hearing screams in the area that night, while phone records show multiple unanswered calls from concerned friends and family.

PSNI officers faced tough questioning over why certain leads were not pursued more aggressively and why specialist confined-spaces search teams were not deployed sooner. One inspector rejected claims that searches were a “failure,” but admitted crowds gathering at Northwood Linear Park complicated operations.

Digital evidence, including Noah’s phone data and CCTV from the area, has come under intense focus, with claims that key footage or logs were not adequately preserved or analysed in time.

Criminology experts following the case say the handling of vulnerable missing children cases in Northern Ireland has long been plagued by resource issues and communication breakdowns between departments.

Dr. Sarah McKenna, a Belfast-based forensic psychologist, told Daily Mail: “When clothing isn’t properly sealed, when timelines have gaps, and when officers are forced into defensive testimony, it undermines public confidence. For a mother like Fiona, this isn’t just bureaucracy — it’s the difference between closure and a lifetime of doubt.”

The Heartbreaking Details of Noah’s Final Days

Noah was described by teachers and friends as a talented, ambitious boy with a love for cycling and a bright future ahead. In the weeks before his disappearance, his mother noted subtle changes in his behaviour — he had become interested in self-improvement books and was unusually helpful around the house.

The inquest has heard graphic evidence about the condition of his body when recovered, with pathologists finding no clear evidence of direct violence but noting injuries consistent with possible movement through the culvert system. However, experts could not rule out that some injuries occurred up to three days after he went missing.

The possibility that Noah entered the culvert through steel bars has been presented as the “most likely” scenario by some experts, but Fiona’s team continues to challenge this, pointing to the lack of definitive proof and the many unanswered questions surrounding his last known movements.

Public Anger and Calls for Accountability

The latest revelations have reignited fury across Northern Ireland. Social media has been flooded with messages of support for Fiona, with hashtags like #JusticeForNoah and #TruthForNoah trending once again.

Community vigils continue in North Belfast, where yellow ribbons and photos of smiling Noah still adorn lampposts. Local politicians have called for the coroner to have full access to all PSNI records without restriction.

SDLP MLA for North Belfast, Nuala McAllister, said outside court: “This inquest is exposing serious issues. Families deserve better than evidence bags that aren’t sealed and officers having to defend their honesty on the stand. Noah’s life mattered. The truth matters.”

The PSNI has defended its overall investigation but acknowledged “lessons have been learned” for future missing persons cases. However, sources within the force privately admit the inquest has been “painful” and has highlighted training and resource gaps.

What Comes Next in This Painful Search for Answers

The inquest continues today with further witnesses expected to address the culvert searches, phone records, and potential third-party sightings. Coroner Mr Justice Rooney has warned all parties to focus on the facts amid the growing tension.

For Fiona Donohoe, every day in court is both exhausting and necessary. She continues to push for a comprehensive examination of every aspect of the police response, from the first 999 call to the recovery of her son’s body.

One legal expert close to the proceedings told Daily Mail: “The officer’s comment about not lying may have been intended as a defence of his integrity, but it has only highlighted how fragile trust has become. The clothing issue is symptomatic of wider problems.”

As the inquest edges closer to its conclusion, the people of Belfast remain divided between those who accept the tragic accident narrative and those who, like Fiona, demand a fuller accounting.

Noah Donohoe was just 14 — a boy with dreams, friends, and a loving family. His death should never have been surrounded by so many doubts and procedural failures.

Daily Mail will continue to report every twist and turn from Laganside Courthouse as this deeply emotional inquest unfolds. For a mother still fighting for her son’s truth, and for a community still mourning a lost child, the search for answers is far from over.

In the quiet moments between testimonies, one question hangs heavy in the Belfast air: How many more mistakes were made in those first crucial hours — and will the full story ever truly emerge?