BBC Radio Podcasts from The State of Us
19. The verdict
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is a convicted paedophile and child rapist.
18. Jury still deciding
The jury considers the combined 23 charges for a second day.
17. Jury considers verdict
The jury retires to consider the combined 23 charges.
73. What we'll never know
All 76 witnesses have now given their evidence to the inquest.
16. Final arguments Part 2
Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister has asked the jury to find her not guilty of all charges
72. Police apology
The lead investigator apologises for a breakdown in relations with Fiona Donohoe.
15. Final arguments
Barristers began closing statements today in court.
71. The final witness
The final witness in the Noah Donohoe inquest has taken to the stand.
14. The defence closes its case
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s defence team closed its case today.
70. Tracing phone movements
The lawyers begin to tie up loose ends as the inquest enters its final stages.
13. 'Sinful and deceitful'
Jeffrey Donaldson completes his evidence to the trial.
69. Tracking down Jordan Peterson.
The efforts made by police to contact the author Noah had become fixated with.
12. Jeffrey in the witness box.
The jury hears from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in person as he takes to the witness stand.
68.Questions not asked.
A police officer involved in the investigation has been giving evidence.
67. Psychiatrists ‘can’t explain it’.
Experts told the inquest they don’t believe a mental illness had a part in Noah’s death.
11.Eleanor's police interview
The court heard Eleanor Donaldson was on ‘red alert’ for years regarding her husband.
66.Did Noah have a psychotic episode?
The court heard Noah could have been in the early stages of a psychotic episode.
10.Jeffrey's police interview
The trial hears the moment police put the rape allegation to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
9. Court told Eleanor ‘still loved’ Jeffrey
Five witnesses gave evidence in court today.
8. Jeffrey's WhatsApp message
The court hears Jeffrey Donaldson sent a message saying he wanted to repent.
65. The Last Photo
The last photo taken on Noah's phone isn't remembered by the man who checked his devices
64. Noah's final journey
Footage is shown of Noah’s final journey through Belfast on the day he disappeared.
7. Tearful witness blames herself.
A witness tells the court she should have gone to police sooner.
6. Rape allegations
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of raping a child.
5. Woman told she’s ‘making up’ abuse
One of the two women accusing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson finished her evidence today.
63. Is key expert impartial?
A Department for Infrastructure witness was challenged by the Donohoe family’s barrister.
4. Eleanor accused of seeing abuse
Lady Donaldson is accused of witnessing her husband’s alleged abuse but not intervening.
3. Letter of 'regret'
The trial is told Sir Jeffrey Donaldson wrote a letter to one of the two alleged victims
62. Tunnel ‘not seriously dangerous’
An expert says he wouldn’t say the tunnel in which Noah died was ‘seriously dangerous’.
2. The Prosecution’s case
Prosecutors have begun setting out the case against the Donaldsons.
61. Bodycam footage lost
A detective involved in the case wasn’t aware of a number of pieces of evidence
60. Witness accused of ‘untruth’
A police witness wasn’t asked about the search for Noah until last month.
1. Jury sworn in
A jury is sworn in for the trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Lady Eleanor Donaldson.
The Donaldson trial
Solicitor Sarah McKeown discusses some big pre-trial decisions the judge has made.
59. New video of night before
The jury is shown new CCTV footage of Noah on the night before he disappeared.
58. Problems with time of death
An expert theory on the time Noah died was challenged today.
57. Tunnel area used as ‘playground’
Whether the public could easily access the storm drain area was debated today.
56. Jury sees body in tunnel
The court is shown footage of Noah's body inside the culvert.
55. Mystery call to Noah
A mystery call was made to Noah’s phone from his own number the night before he vanished.
54. Fireworks in court
A returning witness today said he was sick of being harassed by the legal teams.
53. Escaping the tunnel
A Department for Infrastructure official explains why he crawled through the storm drain.
52. The steep drop
An expert says the steep gradient of part of the storm drain added to its danger.
51. Panicked Government WhatsApps
WhatsApp messages between Department of Infrastructure staff were told to the jury today.
50. Copycat fears
The bars on the storm drain that Noah entered are now closer together.
49. Other culvert deaths
The jury hears of the tragic death of a man trapped in a culvert during flooding in 2007.
48. ‘Sensitive’ legal issue
Evidence was delayed while lawyers dealt with a sensitive matter away from the jury.
47. Witness in handcuffs
Key witness Daryl Paul is serving a prison sentence.
46. Daryl Paul’s enemy
An enemy of the key witness who stole Noah’s laptop will not appear at the inquest.
45.The laptop thief
The man who tried to sell Noah’s laptop gave evidence to the inquest.
44. Heroin assault claims
A witness told police she’d heard Noah was injected with heroin the day he disappeared.
43. Evidence delayed
Legal arguments dominated the day in Court 12.
42. 'Search not rescue'
A Home Office risk assessment found it unlikely that Noah would be in the storm drain.
41. Hostile crowds?
Just how angry was the crowd that gathered in Linear Park to help search for Noah?
40.Witness protection
Today another potential witness had his anonymity at the inquest secured.
39. Juror sick
The 11th week of evidence hit a road bump today when the jury couldn’t sit.
38. Time of death
An expert witness says Noah likely died around two hours after he was reported missing.
37. Recap 10 weeks of evidence
Tara and Declan recap the ten weeks of evidence at the inquest.
36. Arguments in court
The jury wasn’t present today, as barristers made legal arguments.
35. Juror discharged
The jury foreperson was sent home after recognising a witness.
34. Coroner's warning to police witness
The Coroner warns a police witness about the potential of incriminating himself.
33. Failure of basic policing
The police officer who missed CCTV footage of part of Noah’s journey gave evidence.
32. Classified Information
The jury hears how classified maps were dealt with by police.
31. Twist in 'missed' CCTV story
The camera pointing towards the storm drain was spotted by police.
30. The mystery of Noah's Instagram
Three members of a family deny trying to freeze Noah’s Instagram account.
29. Drug testing dead bodies
Two scientists gave evidence about the issue of the toxicology reports.
28. What we can’t tell you
Legal arguments dominated the day in court.
27. Were drugs involved?
Pathologists are asked if drugs could have been involved in Noah’s death.
26. Post-mortem results
The jury hears that Noah drowned.
25. 80 missing children a week
The jury hears how many children were reported missing the week Noah vanished.
24. 'Ten police failings'
A barrister for the family claims the police coordinator was responsible for 10 failings.
23. Sex offenders investigated
The jury hears a number of local sex offenders were checked after Noah disappeared.
22. The unlocked hatch
The jury hears how police discovered that the hatch to the storm drain was unlocked.
21. Jury taken to scene
The jury left court today to follow Noah’s final journey in person.
20. 590m into the drain
The jury hears about a delay in passing information on Noah’s last known location.
19. Juror in tears
The jury is played part of a tv documentary which focused on the search for Noah.
18. Reporting ban lifted
The jury learns about the man who found Noah’s bag and tried to sell his laptop.
17. Three police theories
The jury hears PSNI theories as to why Noah disappeared.
16. Police statement 'completely wrong'
Two police officers involved in the early stages of the investigation give evidence
15. Horrific conditions
A witness who searched the storm drain speaks of the horrific conditions inside
14. Inside the storm drain
Footage of the storm drain where Noah’s body was found is shown for the first time.
13. Noah’s missing shorts
The jury hears how Noah’s shorts and boxers were never found by police
12. Police missed key CCTV
Day 12 and the Court hears a CCTV camera was missed by police in the search for Noah
11. More screams
More witness evidence on hearing screams on the night Noah went missing
10. First police witness
The first police officers to begin the search for Noah were questioned in court today
9. A scream in the night
A high-pitched scream was heard at 3am on the night Noah went missing
8. Noah cycling naked
A key witness tells the inquest how she saw Noah cycling naked on the day he disappeared
7. Noah falls off his bike
The jury hears from eyewitnesses who saw Noah fall off his bike in north Belfast
6. Jordan Peterson's influence on Noah
The jury hears Noah was drawn to the psychologist, who is often described as conservative
5. The unread final message
The inquest heard about the days before Noah died from his best friend Jay Tierney
4. Mother's 999 call
The desperate 999 call Fiona Donohoe made when her son went missing is played in court
3. Court evacuated
An emergency evacuation of Laganside courthouse interrupts jury selection
2. Who speaks for Noah?
Meet Northern Ireland’s most senior coroner as he whittles down the jury pool
1. Jury selection
A special series from The State of Us podcast brings you inside the courtroom
Introduction to the Noah Donohoe Inquest
A special series from The State of Us podcast brings you inside the courtroom
What happened to Noah Donohoe?
The inquest into the death of teenager Noah Donohoe is due to begin next week
Christmas with May McFettridge
Northern Ireland’s favourite panto dame on funeral gigs and how he saved a life
Uniquely NI: How the Troubles still fuel homelessness
How did NI's homeless people grow up? How did the Troubles shape their future?
Britain’s ‘golden egg’ spy in the IRA
A Stakeknife pantomime: Who was Freddie Scappaticci, the dead spy Britain still protects?
The cocaine in Northern Ireland’s water
New study highlights drugs – from caffeine to ketamine - lurking in our lakes and rivers
The latest Irish church abuse crisis
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
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
Familiar faces return to count The State of the Budget
Jim Browning: Meet the mystery hacker scamming the scammer
The YouTube star who takes on multi-million pound scams across the world.
EXTRA: Religious education in schools – Supreme Court ruling explained
The Supreme Court has ruled Christian-focused RE taught in NI schools is unlawful
Cookstown hotel crush: The ‘open wound’ of Greenvale
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'
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
Michael Smiley and Joanne Crawford on season three of award-winning TV drama Blue Lights
The State of Us Live Show: The career of a BBC Panorama reporter
Darragh MacIntyre on Cpt Robert Nairac, Virginia Giuffre & BBC impartiality
Northern Ireland’s smear test ‘scandal’ – explained
17,500 tests rechecked - what was happening in the Southern Trust?
The children married in Northern Ireland
16 and 17 year olds can still marry here. Why hasn’t the law changed yet?
Soldier F – Not guilty
Former paratrooper not guilty of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in 1972
TV writer says pro-Israeli views shut out of the arts
David Ireland on his loyalist roots, Israel, alcoholism & God
Parents of SEN child convicted over school non-attendance
Leigh and James Bryson spent £30k defending themselves in court.
Did Northern Ireland really inspire Trump's Israel/Gaza peace plan?
And can mediators and negotiators learn anything from our past?
Do mugshots matter?
Why did the PSNI delay publishing a mugshot of a rapist on the run?
The great big vaccine debate
Vaccine rates in Northern Ireland are falling – why?
What the **** is happening in golf?
Swearing, shouting, and lobbing pints – The Ryder Cup 2025
Fighting poverty in NI: The minister defends his plan
The communities minister answers the critics of his anti-poverty strategy.
Bonus: Kneecap’s Mo Chara terrorism case thrown out
What happened in court and the reaction from outside – Kelly Bonner speaks to Declan
Was the PSNI spying on journalists?
How police used covert powers to unlawfully try to uncover reporters’ sources
Irish presidential election hots up
The clock is ticking for nominations – who could be the next president of Ireland?
Blue Lights – the new series
The award winning police drama was the brainchild of producer Louise Gallagher
Uncovering the truth about Katie Simpson’s death
The secret investigation that led to a murder trial that shook the equestrian community
Stuart Robinson: ‘Behind enemy lines’ chatting about the Cool FM cash call, BBC licence fee & the biggest show in the country
He also talks about Barra Best & a cocktail, and his first ever presenting gig
Tuam: Ireland’s secret burial shame
Hundreds of babies & children buried in a mass grave. What the excavation has discovered
Ireland's missing children: Donabate & Kyran Durnin
The search for a missing boy in north county Dublin & the case of Kyran Durnin
The State of Stormont
Summer is over, it's back to the benches for our MLAs – how are relations on the hill?
The income you need to survive in Northern Ireland
It might be more than you think – and families are being squeezed
The cocaine flooding NI’s streets
Are we in the grips of a cocaine crisis?
Palestine Action: Northern Ireland’s first arrest
Tara & Declan talk to the woman arrested in Belfast wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt
Secrets of a weather forecaster
Weather presenters Cecilia & Barra on the science of forecasting & tricks of their trade
The State of Ballymena
Tara and Declan revisit Ballymena with MP Jim Allister, two months after the riots
How can we fix Lough Neagh?
Can the blue-green algae blight be solved?
Chasing politicians into churches and more
The Burke family come north, plus hospital waiting lists and house prices.
Why do some men kill?
Tara and Declan explore why 29 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020
Maguiresbridge murders: A rural village plunged into tragedy again
A mother and her two children murdered in their own home
Lasagne-gate
What really goes into our food?
“I lost £5,000 after going to an IVF middleman”
What do you do when the IVF company you’re using goes bust?
Libel lawyer to the rich and famous…and to Gerry Adams – Paul Tweed
Paul Tweed on Gerry Adams, the BBC and Tom Cruise
A mother jailed for cruelty and assault against her son – Jamie’s story
Knifed and forced to eat cat litter – just some of the abuse Jamie suffered
What do kids really get up to on their phones?
The State of Us has asked 240 kids about their online lives, the results may surprise you
John Campbell to the rescue! (The UK/EU deal explained)
John Campbell gives Tara Mills & Declan Harvey his straightforward take on the UK/EU deal
The A5 upgrade has been blocked…again
A judge has blocked the long-delayed A5 project from going ahead in its current form
Suppressing a sex abuse secret: Why the voice of rugby stopped talking
Mark Robson was sexually abused as a child by paedophile teacher Lindsay Brown
Tattle Life: A £300k payout in libel damages for gossip website
Tara & Declan talk about the Co Antrim couple who sued the gossip website Tattle Life
Race riots, Minister resignation calls & the Casement Park soap opera
Tara & Declan talk about arson at Larne Leisure Centre & the full story of Casement Park
EXTRA: Race riots in Ballymena
What is happening in Ballymena? Tara and Declan look at a second night of violence
What do you do if your child won’t go to school?
Tara Mills & Declan Harvey talk about Northern Ireland’s “epidemic” of school avoidance
Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann suspect of rape says he could’ve been stopped
As police search in Portugal in Madeleine McCann case, Tara & Declan speak to Hazel Behan
Winston Irvine, paramilitary prison wings & Jonathan Anderson rules Dior
Tara & Declan discuss Winston Irvine, segregated prisons & Jonathan Anderson heads Dior
EXTRA: Gerry Adams v The BBC – The Verdict
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey talk about Gerry Adams’ libel win against the BBC
Small town porn star: ‘I’ve been treated worse than my brother’s murderer’
Tara and Declan chat to Meghan O’Neill about her experience in the sex industry
Gerry Adams v The BBC
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey chat to Julian O’Neill, who has been covering the libel case
Kneecap new info & Julie Ann McIlwaine's sister fights murder verdict
Tara & Declan have new Kneecap info & Julie Ann McIlwaine’s sister fights murder verdict
“I’ve lost 9 stone in 9 months using weight loss jabs”
“I’ve lost 9 stone in 9 months using weight loss jabs” and it’s been “life changing”
Lagan College accused of not doing enough to prevent abuse
Sexual assault victims say school didn’t do enough to prevent abuse
Trans rights, toilets and NI councils
Tara Mills & Declan Harvey talk about NI local authorities and trans rights
Kneecap and why Israel/Gaza resonates more in Northern Ireland
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey discuss Kneecap and why Israel/Gaza resonates more in NI
Introducing The State of Us
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey’s off-air conversation brings a refreshing look at the news