Inquest into Noah Donohoe's Death Adjourned
The inquest investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Noah Donohoe in north Belfast in June 2020 has been postponed. The decision was made by the coroner, Mr. Justice Rooney, shortly before 1:00 BST on Friday morning, due to pre-arranged holiday plans of four jurors.
Mr. Justice Rooney characterized the situation as "unprecedented." The ten-member jury, comprising eight men and two women, had been deliberating for three days since Tuesday morning. They continued their deliberations into Thursday evening, concluding around 23:30, without reaching the unanimous verdict required.
Jury's Dedication Praised Amidst Uncharted Territory
The late-night proceedings took place at the Royal Courts of Justice, having been relocated from the nearby Laganside Court earlier that evening. During an update before 23:30, it became apparent that two jurors would be unavailable on Friday due to scheduled holidays. Furthermore, two additional jury members were set to be unavailable from Saturday for the same reason. While the minimum number of jurors can be seven, the coroner expressed concerns about proceeding without the full panel.
Following a recess, the hearing resumed just before 1:00 on Friday, at which point the coroner announced the adjournment. Mr. Justice Rooney commended the jurors for their "dedication" throughout the inquest, which commenced at the end of January and spanned over five months. He stated it would be "wrong" to prevent any of them from participating in the conclusion of the jury process.
He acknowledged the "uncharted waters" presented by the holiday arrangements and praised the jury's commitment, noting they had "listened intently" to the proceedings. Mr. Justice Rooney also recognized that the jury was "exhausted" after their extensive deliberations on Thursday, asserting that it would be "totally wrong" to expect them to continue.
Adjournment Deemed Best Course of Action
Mr. Justice Rooney concluded that postponing the inquest until August or September was the most suitable option, ensuring all jury members could participate until its culmination. Before being dismissed, the jurors were reminded not to be swayed by any external factors beyond the evidence presented in court.
The coroner expressed confidence that the adjournment would enable the inquest to "get it right" for Noah's mother, Fiona, and all other interested parties involved in the hearing.
Source: Original Article
