Northern Ireland

Fundraiser for Noah Donohoe documentary passes £100,000

Noah Donohoe (family handout/PA)
Noah Donohoe (family handout/PA)

A crowdfunding campaign to make an investigative documentary about the death of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe has reached over £100,000.

The project was started following a request from Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, and is being led by the Dublin-based investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre.

Two thirds of the money needed has now been raised, with an ultimate goal of reaching £150,000.

The 14-year-old boy from south Belfast first went missing after a bike trip from his home on June 21, 2020.

His body was eventually found in a storm drain six days later after a major search operation involving police and members of the public.

A post-mortem examination concluded that the St Malachy's College pupil had died as a result of drowning.

Commenting on the considerable support so far, Mr MacIntyre said: "I always believed there was a groundswell of support for an independent forensic examination of the tragic death of Noah Donohoe, and we are grateful and gratified by the trust shown in our team of investigators.

"We will honour every donation with an objective and forensic examination of the facts around Noah’s death."

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Those contributing to the documentary will be former Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, known for solving the Stephen Lawrence case, Scotland Yard Detective Andy Crocker as well as Professor Emeritus of Criminology David Wilson.

It is intended that the work will include forensic testing and re-examination of evidence.

Fiona Donohoe's 14-year-old son Noah was found dead in a north Belfast storm drain in June 2020
Fiona Donohoe's 14-year-old son Noah was found dead in a north Belfast storm drain in June 2020

Earlier this month, Ms Donohoe rejected a psychiatrist's report that stated it was possible her son committed suicide after struggling with his low mood and sexuality.

"Noah was brought up around same-sex relationships and couples, and so the idea he would have struggled accepting whatever his sexuality was is inconceivable to me," she told the Sunday World.

"To suggest this would be a factor to 'trigger' Noah to consider suicide shows the little understanding the expert had into who Noah was as a teenage boy.


"Noah had no issues of sexuality. That is never something Noah would have hidden."