Woman's heartache after finding Noah Donohoe's bike outside her home

By Q Radio News.

A woman who found Noah Donohoe's bike has said her heart sank when she realised it was his.

The 14 year old schoolboy went missing Sunday week ago having left his home in South Belfast on his bike.

He is thought to have cycled through the city centre before heading towards North Belfast, in particular to Shore Road area.

Karen Crooks, a mother of three, was one of the thousands of people who responded to social media posts in an effort to find the St. Malachy's pupil.

Crowds of people helping to look for the missing teenager

"I saw on Facebook that Noah was missing, a description of his bike and that the fact he was last seen in the Shore Road area," Karen, from North Belfast, said. 

Karen had previously seen a bike outside her house, but did not suspect anything.

"It was at that point that I double checked that it was a black Apollo bike and rang 101," Karen added.

Karen Crooks

This call to the police helped lead search and rescue teams to a storm drain near Karen's house where Noah's body was later found on Saturday morning.

Noah and his mother, Fiona.

Karen is now concerned other children could be injured or killed in storm drains in Belfast or elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

"My concern is how many of these drains are there sitting like this with children in them, playing around them.

"I now have locked my back garden gate and will not allow my children out into the area of the river and the drain, which our family see as part of our garden.

"My boys love going up and playing up there. They have now lost that. The bigger picture is to ensure their safety."

Floral tributes to Noah Donohoe

Noah's funeral will take place tomorrow at 11.00am in St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street, Belfast.

The funeral is strictly private and for family only.

However, following the service, Noah’s final journey will pass a drive to St Malachy’s College, where he went to school.