The inquest into the death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe resumed on Wednesday with two forensic toxicologists stating that while there was “no toxicological evidence” teen was under influence of drugs, it cannot be “stated with absolute certainty”.
The inquest into the death of the 14-year-old schoolboy, whose body was found in a culvert in north Belfast six days after he went missing in June 2020, entered its eighth week as toxicologist witnesses Amy Quinn and Dr Simon Elliott gave evidence.
Both experts told the inquest that a wide range of drugs, both recreational and pharmaceutical, were tested for and no positive findings were identified. Ms Quinn agreed with Mr Lunny that Noah received “exactly the same” level of screening that a suspected murder victim would have received.
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However, the inquest was told that there were limitations in the fact that some drugs can break down even after death and that “many drugs” will exist outside the scope of screening.
Dr Elliott noted that “it is not realistically possible to cover the thousands of drugs/substances that could be involved” and that many synthetic cannabinoids, commonly referred to as ‘spice’, are unstable and “may not be detected in post-mortem samples”.
Ms Quinn added that if you don’t have access to the specific drug to reference it in testing “then you’re limited in knowing that your theoretical screening will pick that up”.
Key evidence to date:
- Statements from two of Noah’s close friends, who discussed their close friendship and plans to climb Cave Hill
- Eyewitness recalls seeing Noah “sway” on his bike while ‘confusion’ over the PSNI’s head injury theory based on an eyewitness statement who said she didn’t see the boy hit his head
- Residents recall 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
- Jury hears footage of Noah Donohoe may have been ‘missed’ in initial search of CCTV
- PSNI officer denies suggestion that police lost items of Noah Donohoe’s clothing
- Hazardous search officer says crowd gathered at Northwood Linear Park ‘got quite hostile’ and rejects suggestion they acted without ‘sense of urgency’
- Map with Noah’s phone location on the Sunday evening relayed to search and rescue personnel seven hours after it was received by police
- Police search team lead gives 5% chance Noah Donohoe was in culvert
- Inquest hears of concern over ‘missing person fatigue’ raised in review
- Pathologists say they found no evidence of ‘direct violence’ in teenager’s death and that signs were consistent with drowning as cause of death
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.
