Belfast Coroner's Court heard evidence from Daryl Paul, who stole a rucksack with Noah Donohoe's laptop and books. Paul denied his hand appears in a photograph on the schoolboy's phone taken 40 minutes after Noah was last seen on June 21, 2020.

The inquest, now in its 13th week before a jury, examines the death of 14-year-old Noah, a St Malachy's College pupil. His naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast on June 27, 2020, six days after he left his Fitzroy Avenue home by bike to meet friends in the Cavehill area. A post-mortem found drowning as the likely cause.

Paul, from Cliftonville Avenue, resumed testimony on Monday under questions from Brenda Campbell KC, representing Noah's mother Fiona Donohoe. Fiona Donohoe has attended all sessions. Paul stated he never saw Noah and never held his green coat or phone.

CCTV showed Paul in Queen's Quarter, near Noah's home, that evening. Footage captured Noah cycling past Paul while wearing the green coat and carrying the rucksack. Paul said he went there to meet Maria Nolan, who testified earlier.

Campbell noted Noah's rucksack appeared in a green bag Paul carried soon after. Paul denied knowledge of Noah passing him. He admitted looking in Noah's direction after he passed but said their paths overlapped briefly toward Royal Avenue.

Paul previously told police and a journalist he found the rucksack in a York Street or Frederick Street walkway. Footage showed Noah cycling through that area without stopping. Paul denied following Noah's route along North Queen Street to where the phone was found or discarding it in Castleton Park.

Phone records showed six missed calls from Fiona Donohoe that evening and a text message locating the phone near Victoria Parade, where Paul said he went. Paul denied possessing the phone or seeing the calls or message.

An anonymous police call reported Paul with Noah's green coat, which he denied. Police arrested Paul that day but did not question him about the laptop's location or coat.