The inquest has also heard that some aspects of the police search for the schoolboy were hampered by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The hearing has been given details about extensive efforts made by PSNI officers to try to find CCTV footage from various locations across Belfast following the schoolboy’s disappearance in June 2020.
Noah had cycled from his home off the Lower Ormeau Road in south Belfast to Northwood Road in north Belfast, where he was last seen alive.
As the police attempted to establish the precise route taken by the 14-year-old, officers contacted various businesses along different routes from the south to the north of the city.
Insp Cuan Bell, who was a duty sergeant on the two days immediately after Noah’s disappearance, told the inquest that officers were “very committed” to the search for Noah.
“We wanted to get this right,” he said.
Bell explained that some CCTV footage was of “very poor quality”.
Meanwhile the police also encountered difficulties in gaining access to other CCTV footage because the search was taking place while many businesses were adhering to restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bell outlined how some people who could operate a business CCTV system were not immediately available, while some others were working from home resulting in skeleton staff numbers at certain businesses.