Desmond Liddington sentenced for ‘hate’ attack on Paddy Gibson’s home

A white supremacist who sports a tattoo on his head declaring support for a racial holy war has learned his fate for a brazen attack on a well-known activist’s home.

The leader of a white supremacy neo-Nazi group has been jailed for a terrifying attack “motivated by hatred or prejudice” on a prominent activist’s home.

Desmond Liddington, 39, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for affray and intimidation charges related to an attempted home invasion of Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal rights activist Padraic “Paddy” Gibson on December 4, 2021.

Neo-Nazi extremist Desmond Liddington was jailed for an attack on Padraic Gibson’s Arncliffe home. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Liddington, who appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Monday — sporting an AK47 tattoo on his bald head with the word RAHOWA, referring to the neo-Nazi concept of a “racial holy war” — is the leader of white supremacist group called Firm 22.

Court documents said Liddington, who lives in Gregory Hills and is bricklayer, along with two other men arrived at Mr Gibson’s Arncliffe home by car and knocked on the door.

Mr Gibson looked through his peephole where he immediately thought the men were neo-Nazi extremists based on his previous interactions with people in the far-right movement.

Desmond Liddington is the leader of the white supremacy group Firm 22. Picture: Supplied

They were wearing similar clothing, had shaved heads and one of the men’s T-shirts had a Eureka Stockade cross on the front.

One of the men said “is this Paddy? We want to have a word Paddy”.

Mr Gibson said “Paddy is not here” before the men bashed on the door.

Mr Gibson and his wife ran to the back of their house, locked the security door and called police as the men damaged his window and veranda during the chaotic ordeal.

Desmond Liddington intimidated Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal rights activist Paddy Gibson when he went to his Arncliffe home in 2021. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Magistrate Phillip Stewart said he was “satisfied beyond reasonable doubt” the crimes were “motivated by hatred for, or prejudge against a group of people to which he believed Mr Gibson belonged”.

“I find there was a degree of planning. The offenders were collectively aware of Gibson’s address and sought him out by name.

“They travelled from western Sydney to confront Gibson.

“They can be no doubt that Gibson was targeted by Liddington and others due to their right-wing extremist beliefs which obviously do not accord with those held by Gibson.”

Mr Stewart said Mr Gibson would have “no doubt” been intimidated by the “noise and ferocity” of the attack.

A magistrate found Liddington was “motivated by hatred or prejudice” when he went to the home of Paddy Gibson. Picture: Supplied

“The victim, in the privacy of his own residence was confronted by three men — in company, of muscular build and similarly dressed — and had reason to believe that the men were right wing extremists,” he said.

“The men collectively bashed on the front door, smashed a window, tore the front security screen from the window, overturned a glass table on the veranda and threw items.”

Mr Stewart said Liddington showed “no insight” into how his personal beliefs and leadership of Firm 22 related to his crime, adding he was “not remorseful” and had poor prospects of rehabilitation while he maintained extremist beliefs.

Mr Stewart said Liddington had an long criminal history and found he attempted to minimise his actions and shifted blame to his co-accused, claiming he was simply “helping a mate”.

Liddington will be eligible for parole after 18 months on August 3, next year.