Sydney gangster Neddy Smith’s lonely end in Long Bay aged care unit

Once fearsome and imposing underworld figure Arthur Stanley ‘Neddy’ Smith famously boasted he bought “the best police force money could buy”. He spent his last weeks in jail in palliative care as his Parkinson’s disease and dementia worsened.

After a lifetime of crime and violence, notorious Sydney gangster Arthur Stanley ”Neddy” Smith’s final weeks were spent in poor health, as he battled with pneumonia which was worsened by Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

The 76-year-old died at Long Bay jail in September 2021 while serving two life sentences for the murders of tow truck driver Ronnie Flavell in 1987 and brothel owner Harvey Jones in 1983.

During his final month in the jail’s Aged Care and Rehabilitation Unit, the once fearsome and imposing 6’6” (198cm) underworld figure was palliative.

He required assistance to eat, bathe and use the toilet.

On September 8, 2021, his breathing was observed to be “laboured” before it ceased completely around 5pm that day.

Arthur Stanley “Neddy” Smith following a court appearance.

In a short inquest into Smith’s passing, Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Derek Lee on Friday confirmed the crim’s cause of death.

“The cause of Mr Smith’s death was pneumonia with Parkinson’s disease and dementia being significant conditions contributing to the death,” his findings stated.

“Mr Smith died from natural causes, while in lawful custody serving a sentence of imprisonment.”

Smith was in his 30s when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and by 2008, was unable to walk unassisted and relied on a wheelchair.

The inquest gave an insight into Smith’s final years in jail – which revolved heavily around reading. Smith kept busy with books he would borrow from the prison library, or board games like Scrabble – sometimes he’d play alone, and sometimes with other inmates.

At times he would also read legal journals which were printed and delivered to his cell.

Arthur Stanley “Neddy” Smith.

Smith had been in prison since 1989 for the murders, but had spent much of his life inside due to his involvement in robberies and drug trafficking.

He achieved infamy in the 1980s after developing a close relationship with corrupt police Detective Roger Rogerson.

In his autobiography, The Life and Crimes of Arthur Stanley Smith, he wrote: “There has always been crime and corruption within the NSW police force, but nothing like it was [in the 1980s]. … I could never have committed any of the major crimes I did, and got away with them, without the assistance of the NSW police force.

“They were the best police force that money could buy — believe me, because I bought them hundreds of times.”