Fresh searches, excavations for missing Kowanyama mum Allison Neridine Bernard issued by Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson
The Northern Coroner has tasked the Queensland Police Service to undertake fresh searches for Kowanyama mother Allison Neridine Bernard in the wake of evidence given at a Coronial Inquest into her disappearance.
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NORTHERN Coroner Nerida Wilson has tasked the Queensland Police Service to undertake fresh searches for Kowanyama mother Allison Neridine Bernard in the wake of evidence given at a Coronial Inquest into her disappearance.
At the conclusion of the second part of the inquest in Cairns on Tuesday, Ms Wilson directed senior police to undertake a further search of the property where Archer River Quarry caretaker Thomas Byrnes had previously lived, known as “The Bend”, as well as mine shafts suggested by now-retired and former officer in charge of Coen police station Sergeant Matt Moloney.
Ms Wilson said she intended to issue a coronial direction to Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll or her delegate to prepare a review of the adequacy and governance of the police investigation into Ms Bernard’s disappearance, and any service gaps in the investigation in relation to family assistance liaison and perhaps also travel and accommodation for families attending inquests.
The court also heard Ms Wilson was amplifying the official issues at inquest to include the additional issue of the adequacy of the police investigation.
Ms Bernard disappeared into the night from the Archer River Quarry on February 10, 2013, and no trace of her has ever been found.
No charges have ever been laid.
Giving evidence to the inquest on Monday and Tuesday, Mr Byrnes repeatedly denied he had anything to do with her disappearance.
The inquest previously heard Mr Moloney suggested the searching of the mine shafts in an email to the lead investigator into Ms Bernard’s disappearance, Detective Senior Constable Byron Worth, as Mr Moloney was finishing up in Coen in December 2014.
Ms Wilson also directed police to undertake a fresh excavation site at the Archer River Quarry dam closest to the quarry residence, and any other sites that co-ordinators might deem relevant.
“I’ll also request that Sergeant (Jim) Whitehead be briefed on the investigation and provide opinion if possible as to the possible location of (Ms Bernard’s) skeletal remains – assuming she has met foul play at the Archer River Quarry and noting Mr Thomas Byrnes was the last person to see her alive, and on the premise that she was not lost as the search methodology proceeded at relevant times.”
Ms Wilson said police may consider it appropriate to liaise with Mr Moloney and other persons with specific local knowledge to assist with identifying mine shafts and rock fissures that could be of relevance.
Ms Wilson requested the search be done in the next four months and that police prepare a report for the inquest advising of the outcome of the search.
“But I’m sure after having sat through what I’ve previously called very challenging and distressing evidence, and understanding there are still some loose ends that I feel we will all benefit from and most importantly that I think (Ms Bernard) will benefit from, it seems to me that it will be time well spent and it has a very specific and very clear direction,” she said.
Outside court at the conclusion of the second part of the inquest and with a third still to come, lawyer for the family Debbie Kilroy said it had been a distressing week.
“It’s quite distressing that there aren’t any answers and Ms Bernard can’t be brought home to country,” Ms Kilroy said.
Ms Bernard’s uncle Teddy Bernard said it had been nine years since his niece went missing and they would like closure.
He said a good result for the inquest would be for her to be found.
The inquest is likely to resume for a third sitting in November or December 2022.
When asked whether the police still had his confidence, Mr Bernard said: “Not much”.
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Originally published as Fresh searches, excavations for missing Kowanyama mum Allison Neridine Bernard issued by Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson
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