The inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe has been adjourned after three days of jury deliberations that lasted until the early hours of the morning, a moment described as 'unprecedented' by the presiding judge.
Jury Unable to Reach Unanimous Verdict
Mr Justice Rooney made the decision at Belfast Coroner's Court after the jury had deliberated for 24 hours across three days without being able to arrive at a unanimous verdict. The jury was tasked with answering 10 questions, including the date of Noah's death and whether any errors by police contributed to his death.
During a late-night sitting that continued until 12:50 a.m. on Friday, it emerged that several jurors would be unavailable to continue their deliberations. Mr Justice Rooney described the situation as 'unprecedented' and praised the jury for their commitment, noting they had 'run out of time' to reach a verdict.
Adjournment Until Later This Year
The judge confirmed he had opted to adjourn the inquest until all jurors were available again, likely in August or September. He warned that the jurors remain bound by their deliberations until proceedings resume.
The naked body of 14-year-old Noah was discovered in an underground water tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after he went missing. The inquest, which began in January, has heard testimony from 76 witnesses and statements from 42 additional individuals, along with maps, video footage, photographs, police logs, and expert reports. A post-mortem established that Noah died from drowning.
Mother's Unwavering Attendance
Noah's mother, Fiona, has attended every day of the inquest without exception. The jury began their deliberations at 9:46 a.m. on Thursday, continuing at the Laganside Courts complex before moving to the Royal Courts of Justice just before 6 p.m. for an extended sitting.
Mr Justice Rooney earlier described it as 'unprecedented in my experience to have a jury sitting in court at 11:20 p.m.,' while noting there were 'good reasons for it.' Over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the jury deliberated for almost 24 hours.
Judge's Instructions to Jury
Addressing the jury, Mr Justice Rooney stressed that they must reach findings based solely on the evidence presented and that their conclusions must be unanimous. He stated there was no time pressure and that everyone in court was willing to remain as long as necessary for them to arrive at decisions.
