The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has heard that a culvert in the area of north Belfast where he disappeared was unlocked and could be easily opened. Noah, a pupil at St Malachy's College, left home on his bike on June 2020 to meet friends in the Cavehill area. His naked body was discovered six days later in a storm drain tunnel, with a post-mortem examination determining the cause of death as drowning.

Sean McCarry, regional commander for the Community Rescue Service (CRS), told Belfast Coroner's Court that volunteers were deployed to Northwood Road after Noah's bicycle was found. The team identified a culvert on waste ground behind houses, noting that its grill was unlocked and easily opened. Mr McCarry stated that a slim-built technician could pass between the bars, suggesting it as a potential entry point requiring specialist search teams.

The inquest, now in its fifth week, heard that at least 100 CRS volunteers searched the Cavehill area, described as dense terrain including passable areas and thickets resembling jungle. Search efforts shifted dynamically, including to North Queen Street where a phone was located, following police updates.

Jurors viewed a BBC documentary detailing the CRS search during Covid lockdown, showing community involvement in north Belfast. Volunteers described the operation as relentless with urgency, covering bushes, thickets, and water. Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, recounted phoning him after he failed to answer, sensing something was wrong after hugging him goodbye.