Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TEARS FOR TRAGIC NOAH
Police recover 14-year-old’s remains from storm drain
THOUSANDS have been left heartbroken after missing teenager Noah Donohoe’s body was recovered by police yesterday.
The 14-year-old went missing last week and days of searching ended in tragedy when his remains were found by officers in a storm drain in North Belfast.
Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey said: “It is incredibly sad to see the loss of such a gifted and well-loved young man.”
Our thoughts & sympathies are with Noah’s family at this very difficult time
BELFAST YESTERDAY
THERE was a dark cloud across the country yesterday after police announced the recovery of a missing child’s body.
Noah Donohoe, 14, was last seen one week ago today after leaving his South Belfast home on a bicycle carrying a large rucksack with a Lenovo laptop and novel inside.
Yesterday afternoon, Supt Muir Clark confirmed after six days of searches for the St Malachy’s College Year 10 student, his body was recovered in a storm drain complex in the north of the city just before 9.45am.
The 14-year-old’s green North Face coat and grey sweat shorts remain missing and police are currently looking at Noah’s mobile phone and laptop for answers to why he may have been in that area of North Belfast last week.
Supt Clark said in his 30 years working in the police service this missing persons inquiry is “one of the most unusual”.
He added: “Unfortunately I have some very sad news. I can confirm that our specialist police search and rescue team who were continuing to search storm drain complex recovered the body of a young male in the North Belfast area just before 9.45am [on Saturday]. While we have no official identification, we do believe this is missing teenager Noah Donohoe.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Noah’s family and we are continuing to provide support to them at this very difficult time.
“It is disappointing that I again need to comment about people circulating rumours about Noah’s disappearance, which are completely without foundation.
“This type of commentary and rumour is distressing for Noah’s family and is extremely unhelpful.
“If people post distasteful and blatantly untrue rumours on social media we will investigate that.”
Supt Clark added that despite finding the remains, officers will continue to probe the case.
He added: “An investigation on the circumstances of Noah’s disappearance is still continuing but there is no evidence to suggest foul play.
“Again I would like to thank everyone who has helped in the searches for Noah in the last few days. I also want to thank everyone who contacted the police with information. Unfortunately, no [we still do not know why he was in that part of the city] and hopefully the electronic devices will give both us and his family the answers.
“The storm drain complex was almost 1km long and was extremely challenging and Noah was found within that. We did have access to the
storm drain and it has been searched over the last number of days before we got to the end or almost the end of the complex.
“You would have to proactively go into that drain. It is an extremely challenging environment in which to work and that is why it has taken that length of time to go through that. We are continuing to examine the electronic equipment in which we have recovered, and that forms part of the investigation. Noah’s coat and shorts still remain outstanding, so if anyone has those please contact us.”
Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Noah Donohoe.
He said: “I was so deeply saddened to hear the news about Noah, and I know I speak for the entire city in expressing condolences to Noah’s family and friends.
“It is incredibly sad to see the loss of such a gifted and well-loved young man, and as a father myself, I cannot begin to imagine the anguish and pain at the loss of a child.
“I would like to pay tribute to the community of North Belfast who have come together, helping in the search for Noah, and also to the
PSNI and Community Rescue Service who have worked tirelessly in recent days.”
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, SDLP Councillor Paul McCusker, said people in the city and across Northern Ireland are devastated. He added: “This is news that nobody wanted to hear. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Noah’s family and loved ones.
“They are in unimaginable pain today and I know the community of North Belfast will pull together to support them in any way that we can.”
“I would ask that people give Noah’s family and loved one’s time to grieve.
“Please do not post unhelpful rumours that are only adding to their distress today.
“Please treat them with the respect they deserve.”
People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson said: “I hope our communities can come together, as they did to search, to comfort those who need it most at this time. Rest in peace, Noah.”