A retired police officer has admitted at the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe that he incorrectly plotted a location on a map, which meant a key inconsistency in the teenager’s phone data was not flagged during the search. Detective constable Wilson, a digital media investigator, conceded the error under questioning from a barrister for the family.

Phone data from the day Noah disappeared showed the device moving south of Castleton Park in north Belfast at 7.41pm on 21 June 2020. It was found back inside the park the following day. This was inconsistent with a police theory that Noah threw his phone into the park while cycling, but Wilson did not notice the discrepancy because his map had the park in the wrong place. He described it as inaccurate but not wildly inaccurate, and insisted everything possible was done to find the boy.

Brenda Campbell KC, representing Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe, argued the family believes police “overlooked issues” and that further investigation into possible third-party involvement was warranted. Wilson eventually conceded he had not believed the data was inconsistent at the time because of his mapping error.

The inquest also heard details of extensive international police efforts to contact author Jordan Peterson during the investigation. A digital imprint from an Instagram message by Peterson’s daughter appeared on Noah’s phone history on the day he went missing. Former detective constable Karen Curran told the hearing that the PSNI made enquiries via Interpol, the Canadian High Commission, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The efforts confirmed there had been no social media contact between Peterson and Noah. The teenager was carrying Peterson’s book ‘12 Rules for Life’ in his rucksack when he disappeared.

Separately, civilian witness Connor McConnell provided a new statement accepting his earlier evidence was inaccurate. He had previously claimed he contacted police on the night of the disappearance after seeing a social media post about the missing boy. Two women he named subsequently denied making any such post. McConnell now says his recollection was wrong and he likely called on the evening of 22 June, the following day, and he apologised.

Noah Donohoe, aged 14, left his home in north Belfast on 21 June 2020 with his bicycle and a rucksack. He was last seen on CCTV cycling naked through the area. His body was discovered in a water tunnel on 27 June, and a post-mortem examination found the likely cause of death was drowning. The inquest continues.