Mental health not a factor in Noah Donohoe disappearance, inquest hears

A psychologist has told the Noah Donohoe inquest that the schoolboy could have been suffering from symptoms of depression before he went missing in north Belfast almost six years ago.

But a psychiatrist has told the hearing that mental health was not a factor in Noah's disappearance in 2020.

Noah's state of mind in the lead-up to his disappearance was the focus of separate statements on Monday from a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

Dr Louise Bowers, a forensic psychologist, told the hearing that her assessment was that Noah was a "well-adjusted 14-year-old".

However, she noted that the boy's mother had reported some behavioural changes, including her son being tearful and displaying mood changes in the lead-up to his disappearance.

Bowers also referred to Noah's interest in and reaction to a book he had been reading - 12 rules for life, by the author Jordan Peterson.

The psychologist stressed that her statement was based on documentation she had reviewed for the inquest, and not on any full history of Noah.

She said it was possible that Noah was displaying "some traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that he may have been exhibiting "some symptoms of depression".

In her analysis, the psychologist also referred to possible "signs of destabilisation" on the day of his disappearance.

The witness said she considered if Noah had experienced "a psychotic episode" in the context of his behaviour prior to and on the day he went missing.

The inquest also heard from a psychiatrist who concluded that there was no sign of Noah suffering mental health problems.

Dr Seena Fazel, a forensic psychiatrist, had previously suggested that Noah could have died as a result of suicide.

But after receiving further information from the inquest, he reviewed the matter and changed his mind.

In a new statement, Dr Fazel said he no longer believes it was suicide.

He added: "I do not think that there were any mental health conditions prior to his disappearance."

Meanwhile, an expert witness has told the inquest that he would not compromise his professional reputation at the hearing despite having previous business links with a Stormont department.

The inquest is examining a wide range of issues including the role of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in maintaining a culvert in north Belfast close to where Noah was last seen.

The expert witness, Jeremy Benn, is a founder of the JBA environmental, engineering and risk management business, and is also a co-author of UK industry guidance relating to safety measures around culverts.

The inquest has been examining issues about potential safety concerns surrounding the type of screen which was in place at the culvert entrance.

Benn has favoured the department's use of a debris screen, as opposed to a security screen, at the site.

The inquest has heard that a debris screen was used at the location in north Belfast as a flood prevention measure.

Some other expert witnesses have told the inquest that they believe a security screen should have been in place as a means of preventing anyone from gaining unauthorised access to the culvert.

The inquest has been examining the possibility that Noah may have gained entry to the culvert because of the width between bars on the debris screen.

It has been pointed out that the gaps between bars on a security screen would have been narrower thereby preventing unauthorised access.

Benn had previously been questioned at the inquest about what was described as his independent and a potential "conflict of interest" arising from his business relationship with DfI.

On Monday, the inquest was told by Benn that the JBA business currently employs more than 1,000 people and has an annual turnover of between £80m and £90m.

The inquest also heard that contracts with the DfI had not been worth "large sums".

Benn was asked by a lawyer for the DfI if he would allow his professional reputation to be compromised at the inquest because of his relationship with the department.

"No, I wouldn't," he replied.

He was asked if the company's previous contracts with DfI - many of them valued at around £20,000 or less - were "large sums".

He responded: "No, they're not."

The witness also indicated that he would not consider giving "partisan" evidence on behalf of any client because the business was based on providing "fact-based advice" to a wide range of public bodies as well as private clients.

Benn also responded to previous criticism about his "independence" in relation to industry guidance about safety measures at culverts.

He explained that he was only one of a number of contributors to the guidance and he said criticism about his independence on the matter was therefore "not justified at all".

Noah's body was found in an underground water tunnel not far from the M2 motorway in north Belfast in June 2020, more than 600m downstream from the culvert entrance beside a residential area at Northwood Road.