The inquest into the tragic death of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe has heard compelling testimony from witnesses who reported hearing disturbing screams in the north Belfast area on the night he disappeared, adding another layer of intrigue to the already complex case. Residents living near the storm drain where Noah’s body was later discovered described eerie sounds—including a high-pitched scream and, in one account, two distinct screams—that occurred in the early hours after he went missing on June 21, 2020.

Noah, a student at St Malachy’s College, left his home in south Belfast that Sunday afternoon to cycle and meet friends near Cavehill. CCTV footage later showed him behaving erratically: cycling in loops, falling from his bike, stripping off his clothes in public, and running toward wasteland adjacent to the storm drain entrance around 6:08 p.m. His naked body was found six days later inside the drainage system, with forensic experts concluding the cause of death was drowning, and he was likely alive when he entered the water. No evidence of assault, significant trauma, or drugs was detected, and pathologists ruled out foul play.

Recent sessions of the inquest, held at Belfast Coroner’s Court in early 2026, have focused on witness accounts from the Premier Drive and Northwood Parade areas—close to where Noah vanished. One woman, reading in bed with her window open just after midnight on the transition from June 21 to June 22, described hearing what sounded like a scream from some distance away. She characterized it as high-pitched, likening it to the sound of a young person or female in distress, coming “totally out of the blue” on an otherwise calm night. Startled, she got out of bed and alerted others in her household.

Another resident, Tanya Brown from Premier Drive, provided a more detailed recollection. Lying in bed reading around midnight, she heard an initial scream that seemed distant. She went downstairs to inform her husband, and shortly after, a second scream rang out. The couple stepped into their back garden—her bedroom overlooking it—and stood listening for several minutes. She described the sounds as alarming enough to keep them outside briefly before they returned indoors. In her original police statement, she referenced at least two screams, with the possibility of a third. No one investigated further at the time, and the noises were not immediately linked to any incident.

These accounts align with other testimonies from the same neighborhood. One witness reported a single high-pitched scream in the early hours, prompting fear and a decision to hide under blankets. Separately, a resident was awakened around 3 a.m. by the sound of their back door handle being tried—someone attempting to open it, though the door remained locked. The person did not persist, and the witness did not see who it was. Additional reports mentioned unusual lights, such as a torch or “white flash” illuminating windows, heightening the sense of unease in the area that night.

The timing of these events is noteworthy. Noah’s last confirmed sighting on CCTV was in the evening of June 21, but his body was located deep in the culvert system over 600 meters from the entrance, suggesting he may have entered soon after disappearing. The screams, heard after midnight and into the early morning of June 22, raise questions about whether they could relate to Noah’s final moments—if he was in distress inside the drain—or to unrelated occurrences. The confined, dark, and debris-filled environment of the storm drain could amplify sounds, potentially carrying voices or cries from within.

Investigators and the inquest have emphasized that no direct connection has been established between the screams and Noah’s death. Forensic evidence supports drowning without signs of struggle involving others, and the solitary nature of his documented actions points away from third-party involvement. Police have explored various theories over the years, including accidental entry after disorientation, possible undiagnosed medical events, or self-harm, but the witness statements introduce auditory elements that could not be ignored.

Noah’s mother, Fiona Donohoe, has been present throughout much of the proceedings, supported by her legal team. They have questioned witnesses and officers on details, including why certain leads—like potential CCTV oversights or delayed searches—were not pursued more aggressively. The family has long sought full transparency, pushing for every angle to be examined amid persistent public speculation and online theories.

The inquest continues to hear from residents, police officers involved in the initial response, and experts. These scream testimonies, while chilling, form part of a broader picture that includes Noah’s erratic behavior captured on camera, the absence of toxic substances, and the extraordinary circumstances of his body being found in an improbable location. They serve as a reminder of how ordinary nights can hold unsettling echoes, particularly in a community still grappling with the loss of a bright, kind teenager.

As more evidence unfolds, the hope remains for answers that provide closure. The sounds reported that night—whether linked to Noah or coincidental—underscore the haunting unpredictability of the events surrounding his disappearance and death, leaving lasting impressions on those who heard them and on everyone following the case.