No reason for mental health concerns

A best friend of the Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe has told an inquest into his death that he had no reason to have any concerns about his friend’s mental health.

Charlie Rocks was part of a group of Noah’s school friends at St Malachy’s College on the Antrim Road in Belfast.

In a statement read into evidence at the inquest on Tuesday, Charlie Rocks said he was aware that Noah was going through a “transitional period in his mental health”.

However, he said this was not unusual for a young person and he did not think it was odd in any way, explaining that he and his friends went through similar experiences.

He referenced one message from Noah some weeks before his death in which his friend indicated he was “feeling a bit blue”, but Charlie Rocks stressed this was also not unusual for young people.

He said he had no reason to be concerned about Noah’s mental health and he didn’t think lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic “got to him”.

He said: “It was clear Noah was going through something.”

But he insisted that it was a “good thing” adding, “I was not concerned that he would do anything”.

He also described how he praised Noah for tackling his mental health and he assured him that he was there for him if he needed to speak about any issues.

Charlie Rocks described Noah as a “best friend” who was “the smartest kid”.

He also described him as “the nicest, friendliest, funny” person.

Asked about a self-help book Noah had been reading entitled 12 Rules for Life by the author Jordan Peterson, the witness said “It certainly had an impact on him, that’s for sure”.

Earlier, the witness said he believed the book had changed Noah’s mindset and “helped him in a good way”.

Charlie Rocks said he was offered the book by Noah, but declined because he “wasn’t interested” in reading it.

However he said he understood why someone might be interested in the author if it “shows him how the world works”.

During further questioning about Noah’s interest in the book and the author, he said he had “no concern about that in the slightest”.

He said Noah was “definitely changing and being more open, which was great”.

The witness also said he had no reason to believe Noah would have “any interest” in the Shore Road area of North Belfast where the schoolboy disappeared and where his body was found.

Noah disappeared after cycling to the Shore Road in north Belfast from his home at Fitzroy Avenue in south Belfast in the afternoon of 21 June 2020.

The last reported sighting of him was at around 18:00 BST that evening.

Noah’s disappearance prompted a major search operation with hundreds of people from across Belfast involved.

His body was found downstream in a storm drain on 27 June.

His mother has led a high-profile campaign for answers around her son’s death.

She is being supported by family members, and her solicitor Niall Murphy.

Her counsel, Brenda Campbell KC, told a preliminary hearing last year that Ms Donohoe wanted a “full and fearless” inquest into her son’s death.