Daryl Paul testified at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe in Belfast Coroner's Court. Paul, from Cliftonville Avenue, pleaded guilty to stealing a rucksack containing the 14-year-old's laptop and schoolbooks. The inquest is in its 12th week before a jury.

Noah Donohoe, a pupil at St Malachy's College, left home on his bike on 21 June 2020 to meet friends in the Cavehill area of north Belfast. His naked body was found six days later on 27 June 2020 in a storm drain tunnel near the M2 motorway. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as drowning.

Paul found the rucksack on the evening of 21 June 2020 beside Ulster University construction work. He described jumping railings, speaking to a man in overalls, and spotting the bag propped against a walkway. Paul placed it in his own bag and took it home.

Inside the rucksack, Paul discovered a laptop, a Quran, a blue USB drive, the book 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson, and a notebook. He stated the laptop would not turn on and lacked a charger. Paul left it with Maria Nolan for safekeeping.

On 24 June 2020, Paul and Nolan attempted to sell the laptop at Cash Converters but failed. Paul was arrested that evening for shoplifting clothes from SuperDry. Police later questioned him in his cell about the missing schoolboy's laptop, marking his first awareness of Donohoe's disappearance.

Paul told police the laptop was with Nolan at her hostel. A transcript of his 11 November 2020 police interview was read to the inquest by coroner's counsel Peter Coll KC. A video of Paul speaking to journalists in May 2021 was also shown.

Under questioning by barrister Brenda Campbell KC, representing Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe, Paul admitted lying to police about his plans for the laptop. He accepted he had been dishonest and regretted it. Paul denied any involvement in Donohoe's disappearance or death and stated he never met or saw the schoolboy.

Paul rejected claims of possessing Donohoe's missing khaki green North Face coat. Maria Nolan testified on Wednesday that Paul aimed to sell the laptop for drug money. In a 2025 statement, Paul said he was on bail and electronically tagged at the time, with drug issues and a habit of stealing for money.

Paul reported threats to him and his family from rumours linking him to the case. He appealed for anyone with information on Donohoe's death to come forward. Paul is due to return to the witness stand on Monday.