The inquest into the death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe entered its fifth week on Monday with two further police witnesses, including the officer who delivered the press conferences during the week of the schoolboy’s disappearance.
Muir Clark, who is now Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, gave evidence to the court over video link, and was questioned over his press briefings between June 24 and June 27.
In his evidence he described the process of being briefed for the press conferences, with statements prepared by the senior investigating officer and media officer.
Read more: PSNI officer tells Noah Donohoe inquest he watched CCTV of naked youth running toward wasteland
He said that the head injury theory was “one of a number of hypotheses” being considered and that he presented it as such. He also added that it was “not inappropriate” to state that there was no evidence of “foul play” and that he was informed this was the state of the investigation at the time.
Earlier, the inquest also heard from Detective Sergeant Gardiner, who was one of the CCTV Coordinators within CID during the investigation.
Key evidence to date:
- Statements from two of Noah’s close friends, who discussed their close friendship and plans to climb Cave Hill
- Eyewitness recalled seeing Noah “sway” on bike while ‘confusion’ over the PSNI’s head injury theory which investigator notes revealed were based on an eyewitness statement who said she didn’t see the boy hit his head
- Statement from a Northwood Parade resident who recalled hearing a “high-pitched scream” while residents on Premier Drive heard “two screams” and saw a “white light” and another heard someone trying her back door at 3am
- Two police officers were questioned on their actions on the first day the teen went missing and the discovery of Noah’s phone
- Inquest heard that footage of Noah Donohoe may have been ‘missed’ in initial search of CCTV
- PSNI officer denied suggestion that police lost items of Noah Donohoe’s clothing
- Search team officer said a crowd gathered at Northwood Linear Park ‘got quite hostile’ and rejected suggestion they acted without ‘sense of urgency’
- Two officers were approached by Northwood Road resident with what would be the last known footage of Noah
Our live blog keeps you up-to-date with all the latest from Belfast Coroner’s Court each day as questions surrounding the 14-year-old’s death aim to be answered.
Catch-up on the day’s proceedings with our live blog below.
