The first day of the inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe has taken place in Belfast, with the process of jury selection set to go into a second day.
The Jury had been set to be selected today, however selection was not completed, meaning it will continue on Tuesday morning.
The judge is to open proceedings once a jury has been selected, with the inquest to continue this week. Mr Justice Rooney is the Presiding Coroner investigating the death of Noah, who was found dead in a storm drain six days after he went missing in June 2020.
Ahead of the inquest at Belfast’s Royal Courts of Justice, the judge issued a warning stating that no-one should engage in any social media activity which could potentially prejudice the inquest, warning of serious consequences for the progress of the inquest, and for the person responsible for the posts.
In October, a request was made by Mr Justice Rooney for any person with information to come forward. Previously unseen CCTV footage of Noah leaving his home for over half an hour in the early hours of the morning before he went missing prompted an appeal for information over why Noah left his home that night.
“I’ve been at pains to emphasise the importance and risks of social media posts about the inquest,” he said.
“Some PIPs (properly interested parties) have raised issues about recent social media posts, and they may … require to be explored in some more detail in due course.”
“However it bears repeating that no-one, whether involved in the inquest, or in the general public, should engage in any social media activity which might prejudice the inquest process, particularly given the proximity of the inquest,” he added while speaking at the preliminary hearing.
Justice Rooney, in a statement that same month, sought answers from the public about where the St Malachy’s College pupil went; whether he met anyone; what happened to his flip-flops, and/or his headphones; and Noah having been out in the early hours of the morning on any other occasion.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the Coroner’s Office.