Recordings of anonymous phone calls reporting an attempt to sell Noah Donohoe’s laptop while the schoolboy was missing have been played at his inquest. One witness denied making the calls, despite a claim from another.
Noah Donohoe Laptop Sale Reported to Police
The inquest into the death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe, whose body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, has entered its 10th week. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was likely drowning.
Proceedings resumed Monday afternoon with evidence from anonymous witnesses regarding calls made to police in the days following Noah’s disappearance. Witness AC2, in a statement, said he did not know Noah but became acquainted with AC3 through online bingo during lockdown in June 2020.
According to the statement, AC3 visited AC2’s flat on June 21, 2020, when Daryl Paul arrived and attempted to sell them a laptop. Paul has previously pleaded guilty to stealing a rucksack containing Noah’s laptop and school books. Paul reportedly told them he found the laptop at the Arts College in Belfast.
AC2 stated he wasn’t interested in purchasing the laptop and that AC3 and Paul left together. He later learned from AC3 that the laptop resembled the one Noah had been carrying when he went missing, prompting them to contact police.
AC3 then testified, stating she had heard recordings of the call made to police and denied being the caller. “I can say I did not make this call to police, it does not sound like my voice on the call,” she said.
When asked why she believed AC2 and Paul claimed she made the call, she responded, “I think the two of them are spoofing.”
Recordings of two anonymous phone calls, made on June 24 and 25, were played to the jury. The first call reported Paul’s attempt to sell a laptop, along with a rucksack, a green North Face coat, and a school book bearing Noah Donohoe’s name.
The caller expressed concern, stating, “I’m just really worried about this guy. If he knows something about where that boy is.”
The second call voiced concern that the information from the previous call had not been acted upon.
AC3 denied making either call, stating, “No, I didn’t realise there was another call until today.”
The inquest continues.
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