Noah Donohoe: More of missing boy's belongings found
- Published
Police fear Noah Donohoe may have sustained a head injury
Police searching for a 14-year-old boy who went missing in Belfast on Sunday have found his backpack, book and laptop computer.
Noah Donohoe was last seen in areas close to the Shore Road at 18:11 BST.
Supt Muir Clark said police were content there was "no truth" behind claims made in social media posts on Thursday.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of improper use of public electronic communications network.
Supt Clark said the recovered items - a khaki rucksack containing a Lenovo laptop and a copy of the book 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson - were now being examined by specialist teams and were found after information from a member of the public.
Police officers believe he may have fallen from his bicycle and sustained an injury, causing him to remove his clothing.
Members of the public who think they have information about Noah can now use the PSNI's major incident public portal - a 24-hour online reporting platform, external.
Supt Clark said this did not mean that police thought a crime has been committed and the investigation remained a missing person enquiry.
Earlier, Supt Clark told a press conference police had received a call that led them to the place in Belfast where the items were recovered and it was "still unclear" as to why Noah was in that part of the city.
'Significant work ongoing'
He said finding the laptop was a "significant part of evidence" in inquiries into why Noah was there.
The main area of search continues to be Shore Road bounded by Premier Drive and Skegoneill Avenue.
People there have been encouraged to search properties, gardens and sheds.
"There is significant work ongoing including vegetation in that area," he said.
Supt Muir Clark says significant work is ongoing in North Belfast
This was backed up by Sean McCarry, head of operations at the Community Research Service, which has been assisting the police in the search for Noah.
He said people across the city should "keep their eyes open", as the search enters its fifth full day.
"The public will see police and our own people in areas where they have seen them before, but they will also see us in areas they haven't been in already," he said.
"I would say to anyone listening anywhere in Belfast, the days have gone past, we need to make sure that we are not just thinking that's in north Belfast, or that's in this particular area.
"We have to also assume here that Noah could have moved into other areas and not know where he is or be confused.
"So anywhere in Belfast, people keep your eyes open and have a look in your house and garden to see there's nobody here that shouldn't be here."
Noah Donohoe's mother, Fiona, attended a news conference on Wednesday
At the scene: BBC News NI's Kevin Sharkey
So much time has now passed since the last confirmed sighting of Noah Donohoe last Sunday evening in a street off the Shore Road in north Belfast.
Northwood Road, will be familiar to football fans.
It's directly across the road from Seaview, the home ground of Irish League club Crusaders.
Not far away from there, search and rescue teams are meeting in a car park, planning another day of searches.
Nearby, people in the local community are going about their daily business, having stepped back from the main search operation on Thursday, to allow the police and community search and rescue teams to carry out targeted and specialised searches.
But this community is troubled by this mystery in their midst.
Like the wider public, the people here desperately want to know what happened to Noah.
Everyone I speak to is thinking of his family, wanting Noah to be found and and to be brought safely back to his family.
The search around the Shore Road area of north Belfast has been extended as far as the Antrim Road and city centre.
Police said on Thursday that rumours circulating about the search for Noah were "extremely unhelpful and distressing for his family".
They also appealed to Noah's friends to get in touch with them if they have any information.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Supt Clark asked the public to give police and specialist search and rescue teams the space to carry out their work.
He added that the investigation remained a missing persons inquiry.
'Not entirely clear'
While a number of items belonging to the St Malachy's College pupil have been found, a green North Face jacket and grey sweat shorts with an emblem on one leg are still missing.
Police issued a photo of a backpack similar to Noah's
He had also been wearing a black skateboarding helmet, a blue and navy hooded top and Nike trainers with a bright yellow tick.
Supt Clark said police had received a "significant amount of dashcam footage" and had "received and discounted" a number of potential sightings.
He added police had a "number of hypotheses" as to what may have happened.
"The one we are majoring on is that he has in some way suffered a head injury" which led to him being "disorientated", he said.
Anyone with information on Noah's whereabouts is asked to contact police immediately on 101.
St Malachy's College said the community was praying that Noah was found and returned safely to his family soon.
A statement from the school described him as a personable, good-humoured and very kind person as well as a talented cellist "who displays impressive competitive and athletic skills on the sports field"., external
Where was Noah last seen?
Having left his home in south Belfast at about 17:30, Noah was reportedly seen passing through Ormeau Avenue in Belfast at about 17:45.
He crossed the city, going through the heart of the city along Royal Avenue and then on to North Street.
He then made his way towards the north of the city going along North Queen Street.
An eye witness reported a young man fitting his description falling off his bicycle in the North Queen Street/York Road area. He then went on to the Limestone Road.
Noah was reportedly seen riding his bicycle in the Northwood Road area, apparently having abandoned all his clothing.
It is suggested he may have got off his bike and left the area on foot. The last reported sighting was at about 18:10.
- Published25 June 2020
- Published24 June 2020
