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During the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe, a senior official from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), Jonathan McKee, addressed questions regarding safety measures at a culvert near where Noah went missing in North Belfast in June 2020. The boy’s body was discovered six days after his disappearance, found in an underground drainage system located over six hundred meters downstream from the culvert entrance behind homes on Northwood Road. Concerns have since been raised about whether the hatch next to steel bars at the site was locked, as this was seen as a critical point that may have allowed Noah access into the culvert.
McKee clarified that it is uncertain if the hatch had a padlock in place before Noah’s death, but stated, “To be fair and reasonable I think it wasn’t locked.” He firmly rejected the claim made by the family’s lawyer that the department “hadn’t a clue” about whether the hatch was secured. Reflecting on the case, McKee described the tragedy as “an absolute shock” to the department, highlighting the intense media scrutiny that followed and the urgency with which the department sought to address the situation. He emphasized, “It probably wasn’t locked,” and insisted that the accusation that the department lacked awareness “isn’t right.”
The inquest also explored how Noah might have accessed the culvert. While the family’s lawyer underscored public concerns that Noah had entered “through a hatch or bars,” McKee challenged this uncertainty by noting that experts agreed Noah gained access via the bars, though he admitted, “We don’t know how Noah got in.” He explained that there are two types of screens at culverts: security screens and debris screens. Specifically, this culvert had a debris screen, which typically does not require a padlock. Addressing potential risks to nearby residents, McKee said no safety concerns had been reported by homeowners whose gardens back onto the waste ground around the culvert, remarking, “It’s an exceptionally vigilant community.”
Concerns were also raised about communication with local residents regarding potential risks. The family lawyer stated that the residents had not been informed about safety issues and were unaware that the culvert hatch lacked a padlock. She suggested that if a security screen had been installed, Noah “would still be here.” A local parent had expressed feelings that the area was dangerous, indicating a lack of awareness about the hazards. In response, McKee maintained that the debris screen was suitable for the location, combining safety concerns with the need to manage flood risks downstream near homes on Shore Road. He concluded by saying, “Where there are lessons to be learned, we’ll learn those lessons.” The inquest also previously heard that access to the culvert’s surroundings was restricted to residents of four houses on Northwood Road. Noah was last seen running naked between nearby homes, heading toward the private back gardens adjacent to the culvert site
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