An inquest at Belfast Coroner's Court heard that police considered known sex offenders in the area during the search for Noah Donohoe. The 14-year-old St Malachy's College pupil went missing from north Belfast's Cavehill area on a Sunday evening in June 2020 after leaving home on his bike to meet friends. His naked body appeared six days later in a storm drain tunnel, with drowning determined as the cause of death. The jury inquest entered its sixth week.

Sergeant Hutchings, the lead police search adviser, testified that he spotted a culvert entrance in Northwood Linear Park on Tuesday morning after Noah's disappearance. He arranged for its search despite viewing it as low probability, stating no evidence indicated the boy entered the tunnel. Sean McCarry of Community Rescue Service contacted Hutchings off duty Monday night about the culvert, but Hutchings recalled discussion of a stream and Noah's bike, directing contact to the duty officer.

Hutchings noted searches covered multiple sites Wednesday, including storm drains. By Thursday, police hypotheses included voluntary missing or involvement of a third party, prompting checks on local sex offenders. Divers entered tunnel outlets Friday, and a search team in dry suits found the body Saturday during low tide. Hutchings wanted to continue Saturday but took a scheduled rest day, briefing a replacement unfamiliar with the case.

Counsel Declan Quinn questioned Hutchings on search timing. Hutchings affirmed the operation proceeded as quickly and safely as possible given resources, rejecting earlier diver deployment due to low odds. He maintained Noah likely remained near his last sighting amid houses, expecting resident sightings. Hutchings expressed condolences to Noah's family, his first contact with them, and said the tunnel search enabled recovery.