The BelTel

An Eyewitness saw Noah Donohoe fall over handlebars of his bike the day he went missing – the inquest in his death has heard. Another witness recalled seeing Noah “with no top on”. Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph, among the headlines from Thursday’s evidence: New inquest witness said he believed Noah had no top on when he saw him Witness says she 'didn't see' Noah suffer head injury 'It wasn't horrifically bad but he did go forward': Inquest hears Noah fell over bicycle handlebars 

Six months into his career as a politician, Jon Burrows has become the leader of the UUP unopposed. It’s understood the former PSNI officer had overwhelming support from the party’s rank and file membership nut he remains a relative unknown to the media and to the wider public. Jon Burrows joined Ciarán Dunbar in the BelTel studio. 

The Noah Donohoe inquest has heard evidence from one of his friends, Charlie Rocks. 14-year-old Noah’s remains were found in a storm drain in North Belfast almost six-years ago. Mr Rocks said it was “clear Noah was going through something before he went missing” but he never appeared to be depressed. He also said Noah had never expressed an interest over storm drains prior to his disappearance. The jury was also shown footage of Noah cycling the day he went missing. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Liam Tunney, who is covering the inquest.

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old schoolboy Noah Donohoe is continuing in Belfast.    Noah’s remains were found in a storm drain in North Belfast almost six-years ago.   He had been missing from his home in south belfast for six-days.    The jury has been hearing evidence from his friends and head teacher.   Liam Tunney was at the inquest. 

Sources say UDA enforcer Colin Simms is offering his services beyond his native South-East Antrim and is trying to get out of Carrickfergus. But UDA brigadiers want £10,000 up front before they take him on – despite Simms bringing a substantial criminal contact book with him.  The Sunday World’s Richard Sullivan reports.

In a case which shocked the city, a 56-year-old Londonderry man has been jailed for preventing the lawful burial of his father. Bizarrely, John Garrett O'Sullivan of Culmore Road, had kept his father’s body in a fridge for days. Noel O'Sullivan, who was 86, died in July 2024, but the exact date and cause of death could not be verified. John Garrett O'Sullivan, who has a PhD but has never had a job or claimed benefits, pleaded guilty. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by court reporter, George Jackson. [Warning – some listeners may find some parts of this podcast disturbing] 

The inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe is underway in Belfast. Noah Donohoe’s body was found in a storm drain in north Belfast on June 27, 2020, six days after the St Malachy’s College student went missing. The jury has been played the recording of the phone call Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe made to police on the evening he went missing and has heard her pre-recorded evidence. She said: Noah had been crying in his bedroom the day he left home Mother Fiona Donohue had “extreme concerns about his mental health”  She questioned if son's life could have been saved if 'right steps' taken by police   Belfast Telegraph reporter Liam Tunney is covering the proceedings. 

Jon Burrows is taking the leadership of the UUP unopposed after current deputy leader Robbie Butler confirmed that he would not be standing. Current party leader Mike Nesbitt has also said that any decision to replace him as health minister would “perhaps raise questions”. The DUP’s Gavin Robinson has wasted no time - invited his rival for talks, telling him to “set aside issues of the past” - but could ‘unionist unity’ ever really happen? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Unionist commentators Tim Cairns and Alex Kane and Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride.