Noah Donohoe may have had 'some symptoms of depression' before disappearance, inquest hears

A psychologist has told the Noah Donohoe inquest that the schoolboy could have been suffering from symptoms of depression before he went missing in north Belfast almost six years ago. But a psychiatrist has told the hearing that mental health was not a factor in Noah's disappearance in 2020. Noah's state of mind in the lead-up to his disappearance was the focus of separate statements on Monday from a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Dr Louise Bowers, a forensic psychologist, told the hearing that her assessment was that Noah was a "well-adjusted 14-year-old". However, she noted that the boy's mother had reported some behavioural changes, including her son being tearful and displaying mood changes in the lead-up to his disappearance. Bowers also referred to Noah's interest in and reaction to a book he had been reading - 12 rules for life, by the author Jordan Peterson. The psychologist stressed that her statement was based on documentation she had reviewed for the inquest, and not on any full history of Noah. She said it was possible that Noah was displaying "some traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that he may have been exhibiting "some symptoms of depression". In her anal

Jun 8, 2026 → Jun 11, 2026