Northern Ireland

Candlelight vigil to be held on Cave Hill to mark Noah Donohoe first anniversary

For the past year, Fiona and Niamh Donohoe, the mother and aunt of Noah Donohoe, have fought for answers about what happened the teenager. Picture by Hugh Russell
For the past year, Fiona and Niamh Donohoe, the mother and aunt of Noah Donohoe, have fought for answers about what happened the teenager. Picture by Hugh Russell For the past year, Fiona and Niamh Donohoe, the mother and aunt of Noah Donohoe, have fought for answers about what happened the teenager. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE family of Noah Donohoe intend to "light up the sky" to mark the one-year anniversary of when he first went missing.

A candlelight vigil will be held on Cave Hill on Monday to remember the 14-year-old.

The St Malachy’s College pupil disappeared after leaving his home in the Ormeau Road area on June 21 last year.

The talented basketball player and musician was making his way by bike to Cave Hill Country Park to meet friends and was seen on CCTV in north Belfast but never arrived.

Hundreds of people took to the streets to search for him.

On June 27, his body was found in a storm drain in the north of the city.

A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of drowning and last August coroner Joe McCrisken said investigations were continuing.

Since his death, Fiona and Niamh Donohoe, Noah's mother and aunt, have been seeking answers about what happened.

They have been supported on their journey by members of `Noah's Army'.

Monday's vigil will take place at 9pm.

Niamh Donohoe said: "With Noah's first anniversary approaching, we intend to celebrate his 14 beautiful years with us.

"We are honoured to have some amazing and talented musicians lining the route from the top of the Hightown Road entrance to the top and at dusk, weather permitting, we intend to light up the sky to mark the occasion."

A blue heart, which is synonymous with the Noah campaign and `Noah's Army', will also be on display on Cave Hill.

Ms Donohoe, who described her family as "very spiritual", said the event will be informal and some people will say a few words.

"The past year has been unbearable for us but Noah's Army gives us strength and support to fight another day and for that we will always be eternally grateful," she said.

She added that the past few days leading up to the anniversary had been surreal.

"No-one can prepare you for these events, like Christmas and birthdays, and you get through. When you are faced with it, nothing can prepare you for these emotions," she said.

"It is spurring us on to keep fighting. When you take a breath again you keep going. Until we have no breath left, we will fight for this child."

Events marking the anniversary are also due to take place elsewhere.

Council buildings in Derry and Strabane will light up blue on Monday while a vigil will take place in Newry on Monday night, where there will be music, face painting, stone painting and African drumming.

Elsewhere, in Shillelagh in Co Wicklow, a Cherry Blossom tree in Noah's memory will be planted during a vigil.