The State of Us Podcast
A special series from The State of Us podcast following each day of the inquest into 14-year-old Noah Donohoe's death. Tara Mills and Declan Harvey take you inside the courtroom.
In the summer of 2020, 14-year-old Noah Donohoe went missing in Belfast. Six days later his body was found in a storm drain.
Questions about his disappearance and death have dominated headlines for the last five and a half years.
The inquest into Noah's death will, for the first time, lay out the facts and evidence in this case.
In this special series from The State of Us podcast, Tara Mills and Declan Harvey take you inside the courtroom, bringing you the evidence as it unfolds each day.
Contact thestateofus@bbc.co.uk
Episodes to download
![]()
Episode 16. Police statement 'completely wrong'—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Thursday
Two police officers involved in the early stages of the investigation give evidence
![]()
Episode 15. Horrific conditions—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Wednesday
A witness who searched the storm drain speaks of the horrific conditions inside
![]()
14. Inside the storm drain—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tuesday
Footage of the storm drain where Noah’s body was found is shown for the first time.
![]()
13. Noah’s missing shorts—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Last Monday
The jury hears how Noah’s shorts and boxers were never found by police.
![]()
12. Police missed key CCTV—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Thu 5 Feb 2026
Day 12 and the Court hears a CCTV camera was missed by police in the search for Noah
![]()
11. More screams—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Wed 4 Feb 2026
More witness evidence on hearing screams on the night Noah went missing
![]()
10. First police witness—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tue 3 Feb 2026
The first police officers to begin the search for Noah were questioned in court today.
![]()
9. A scream in the night—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 2 Feb 2026
A high-pitched scream was heard at 3am on the night Noah went missing.
![]()
8. Noah cycling naked—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Thu 29 Jan 2026
A key witness tells the inquest how she saw Noah cycling naked on the day he disappeared
![]()
7. Noah falls off his bike—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Wed 28 Jan 2026
The jury hears from eyewitnesses who saw Noah fall off his bike in north Belfast
![]()
6. Jordan Peterson's influence on Noah—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tue 27 Jan 2026
The jury hears Noah was drawn to the psychologist,who is often described as conservative.
![]()
5. The unread final message—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 26 Jan 2026
The inquest heard about the days before Noah died from his best friend Jay Tierney.
![]()
4. Mother's 999 call—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Fri 23 Jan 2026
The desperate 999 call Fiona Donohoe made when her son went missing is played in court.
![]()
3. Court evacuated—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Wed 21 Jan 2026
An emergency evacuation of Laganside courthouse interrupts jury selection.
![]()
2. Who speaks for Noah?—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Tue 20 Jan 2026
Meet Northern Ireland’s most senior coroner as he whittles down the jury pool.
![]()
1. Jury selection—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 19 Jan 2026
A special series from The State of Us podcast brings you inside the courtroom
![]()
Introduction to the Noah Donohoe Inquest—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Mon 19 Jan 2026
A special series from The State of Us podcast brings you inside the courtroom
![]()
What happened to Noah Donohoe?—The Noah Donohoe Inquest
Thu 15 Jan 2026
The inquest into the death of teenager Noah Donohoe is due to begin next week.
![]()
Christmas with May McFettridge
Thu 18 Dec 2025
Northern Ireland’s favourite panto dame on funeral gigs and how he saved a life
![]()
Uniquely NI: How the Troubles still fuel homelessness
Tue 16 Dec 2025
How did NI's homeless people grow up? How did the Troubles shape their future?
![]()
Britain’s ‘golden egg’ spy in the IRA
Thu 11 Dec 2025
A Stakeknife pantomime: Who was Freddie Scappaticci, the dead spy Britain still protects?
![]()
The cocaine in Northern Ireland’s water
Tue 9 Dec 2025
New study highlights drugs – from caffeine to ketamine - lurking in our lakes and rivers
![]()
The latest Irish church abuse crisis
Thu 4 Dec 2025
Abuse and safeguarding failings: What's going on in Ireland’s Presbyterian Church?
![]()
Olympic boxer Aidan Walsh: Why I’m delighted to quit the ring
Tue 2 Dec 2025
From Olympic bronze to retirement at 28: Aidan Walsh on why he's quit boxing
![]()
Familiar faces return to count The State of the Budget
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Familiar faces return to count The State of the Budget
![]()
Jim Browning: Meet the mystery hacker scamming the scammer
Tue 25 Nov 2025
The YouTube star who takes on multi-million pound scams across the world.
![]()
EXTRA: Religious education in schools – Supreme Court ruling explained
Thu 20 Nov 2025
The Supreme Court has ruled Christian-focused RE taught in NI schools is unlawful
![]()
Cookstown hotel crush: The ‘open wound’ of Greenvale
Thu 20 Nov 2025
Greenvale witnesses: ‘We were there when friends died – it’s like an open wound’
![]()
Greenvale Hotel Crush: 'Our loved ones died - the years of legal wait is more trauma'
Tue 18 Nov 2025
Family of 3 teens who died in 2019 say they feel "left in the dark" over legal delays
![]()
The State of Us Live: Blue Lights’ Michael Smiley and Joanne Crawford
Thu 13 Nov 2025
Michael Smiley and Joanne Crawford on season three of award-winning TV drama Blue Lights
