Expert tells inquest culvert near Noah Donohoe's disappearance was not high-risk

A hydrologist and chartered engineer told an inquest on Thursday that a culvert near where Noah Donohoe went missing was not a high-risk site. Jeremy Benn, who has provided training on culvert operations to the Department for Infrastructure, appeared as a witness. He was instructed by the department for the proceedings.

Culvert conditions described A barrister for the coroner described the culvert as a "dark, cold and confusing" place which was "seriously dangerous" for unauthorised access. Benn responded that he would refer to it as "not high risk". The witness was asked why a circular security fence had not been installed around the culvert inlet.

He said such a fence would have been vandalised. "As soon as that fence went up, I'm sure they'd have taken the fence down," Benn said.

Cost and access concerns raised Benn stated that installing circular palisade fencing at the north Belfast site would require similar measures at around 700 culverts across Northern Ireland. He estimated the combined cost at £40m. "It would just be a disproportionate waste of money," he said.

Benn added that deaths around culverts are "very rare" and that it is almost impossible to stop determined individuals from gaining access.

Debris screen and water levels The witness explained that a debris screen, rather than a security screen, was installed at the site for flood prevention. He cited past flooding incidents linked to security screens in Belfast and Letterkenny. Benn described entering the culvert during an assessment and said there was a shallow stream of water.

"It wasn't particularly wet," he said. He added that a person crawling through the tunnel could reach the end and return in two hours.