Noah Donohoe: Inquest adjourned until later in year after late-night sitting

The long-running Noah Donohoe inquest has been adjourned until later this year.

The decision was taken by the coroner just before 01:00 BST on Friday because of impending holiday arrangements by four members of the jury.

Mr Justice Rooney described the situation as “unprecedented”.

The inquest has been examining the circumstances of Noah Donohoe’s death in north Belfast in June 2020.

The eight men and two women on the jury had been deliberating over three days since Tuesday morning.

They remained in session on the third day until shortly before 23:30 on Thursday, without reaching the unanimous verdict required by the court.

The late-night sitting took place in the Royal Courts of Justice after the hearing was moved from the adjacent Laganside Court at around 18:00.

During an update before 23:30 it emerged that two of the jurors would be unavailable for service on Friday because they are departing on planned holidays.

It was also revealed that two other jury members would be unavailable from Saturday due to their planned holidays.

The number of jurors at the inquest can drop to a minimum of seven.