No evidence anyone else involved in Noah's death, pathologist tells inquest

Noah Donohoe's death was consistent with drowning with no evidence anyone else was involved, a pathologist has told an inquest.

Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, sat alone at the back of the courtroom as the inquest heard graphic details about the condition of her son's body when it was recovered from a drain almost a week after he disappeared in June 2020.

The coroner, Mr Justice Rooney, said the evidence on Tuesday would be "extremely difficult" for Fiona Donohoe.

In a statement to the inquest, Dr Marjorie Turner said she conducted the postmortem, and she found that the schoolboy's death was consistent with drowning.

Content warning: Some details may be distressing

The inquest heard that Noah's body was covered in silt and mud-like material when it was recovered from the storm drain and his body has bruises and abrasions to areas including his forehead, hands, knees, and elbows.

Turner outlined details of the abrasions and bruises on Noah's body, and she said they could have been caused by "stumbles or falls" or "falling multiple times" while he was in the drain.

She explained that Noah's body had "significant" bruising to his forehead.

The inquest heard that the possibility of the injury to Noah's forehead being caused by a fall from his bicycle prior to his disappearance was considered, but Turner said she believed it was consistent with hitting that part of his head on a surface.

'Confused and disorientated'

The inquest also heard that Noah could have been "confused or disorientated" inside the drain which was described as "pitch black".

Turner also recorded a negative result for the presence of drugs in his body.

The pathologist also said the boy's death could have taken place within hours of his disappearance.

She said she believed the schoolboy "was dead for quite a period to time before he was found" and it was likely to have been "closer to the time he was last seen".

Turner said she did not believe Noah would have floated down the tunnel and she thought he was likely to have made his own way down.

Two other expert witnesses, the former State Pathologist for Northern Ireland Professor Jack Crane and forensic pathologist Nathanial Cary, also gave evidence on Tuesday.

Professor Crane said Noah could have become disorientated in the drain "not knowing how to get in or out" while Professor Cary said a "cold confused space" would have been a very difficult environment for Noah.

All three witnesses agreed there was no evidence of any third party involvement in Noah's death.

In a statement to the inquest, another witness, Dr Peter McSorley explained that he was called to the scene after the boy's body was found six days after his disappearance.

He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.

He also explained how there was a "blackened appearance" on both knees as well as "an obvious swelling" in the middle of his forehead.

He said he did not note any obvious injuries consistent with an assault.

McSorley said he considered the body to have been immersed in water for a number of days, and Noah's death could have taken place "up to six days previously".

The inquest resumes tomorrow.