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Noah Donahoe Inquest Adjourned After Jury Fails to Reach Unanimous Verdict
The coroner will resume the case when all 10 jurors are available, after 25 hours of deliberations on whether police errors contributed to his death.
On Friday, Belfast Coroner Justice Kevin Rooney adjourned the inquest into Noah Donohoe's death after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict on 10 questions following 25 hours of deliberation over three days.
The inquest, which began in January and heard evidence from 76 witnesses, faced disruption when four jurors became unavailable starting Friday due to pre-planned holidays, forcing postponement until later this year.
Fiona Donohoe, the mother of Noah Donohoe, attended every session and watched from the Royal Courts of Justice after the hearing moved from Laganside to accommodate late-night deliberations examining whether police errors contributed to his June 2020 death.
Warning the 10 jurors to "avoid all speculation and rumour," Rooney instructed them to remain in deliberation pending the hearing's resumption in August or September, ensuring the jury has sufficient time to reach definitive answers.
Describing the adjournment as "unprecedented," Justice Rooney prioritized waiting for all members to participate over a forced decision, reflecting his commitment to ensuring the jury reaches a unanimous verdict on all 10 questions.
Noah Donohoe inquest adjourned following ‘unprecedented’ late night sitting
The BelTel discuss the adjournment of the Noah Donohoe inquest after an unprecedented late-night sitting and extended jury deliberations at Belfast Coroner’s Court