Neo-Nazi Desmond Liddington admits attacking activist Paddy Gibson at Arncliffe

Shocking details have been revealed in court of a frightening attack on the family home of a social justice activist by neo-Nazi, who holds ideological views of white supremacy.

A neo-Nazi group leader attacked the home of a prominent Black Lives Matter and Aboriginal activist due to his white-supremist ideological beliefs, a court has heard.

Desmond Liddington, 38, was expected to be sentenced on Tuesday but the case was adjourned to next year for the lawyer to prepare further material.

He has pleaded guilty to intimidation and affray over a terrifying incident involving Maxwell Ferrer and a third man at Padaric “Paddy” Gibson’s Arncliffe home on December 4 last year.

Agreed facts tendered to court state Liddington, who lives in Gregory Hills, was the leader of white supremacist group called Firm 22 and holds “extreme right wing political views and believes in a white supremacy ideology”.

Liddington has distinctive tattoos on his body and bald head, including an AK-47 gun with the word RAHOWA which commonly means racial holy war and is a Neo-Nazi concept of a race war.

Desmond Liddington was due to be sentenced in Sutherland Local Court. File picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police documents state Liddington targeted Mr Gibson because of his political beliefs and activities.

Mr Gibson had previously been in the media for social activism including organising large Black Lives Matter rallies in Sydney in June 2020, along with protests for other Aboriginal causes and trade union issues.

Ferrer previously pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to a 12-month community correction order.

Court documents state officers were watching and photographing Liddington and another man in Colyton in the morning of December 4 where they were seen to get into a white Toyota Corolla driven by an associate.

About 7.30pm that night, CCTV footage shows the same Corolla driving past Mr Gibson’s home before Liddington, Ferrer and a third man exit.

Paddy Gibson speaking at the Black Lives Matter protest held at Djabarrgalli (Sydney Domain). His house was attacked by three men. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police documents state Liddington and another man were dressed the same as they had been seen in earlier that day, and all the men had bald or closely shaved heads.

The men allegedly approached Mr Gibson’s house and knocked on the door.

The documents state Mr Gibson looked through his peephole and didn’t recognise the men but immediately thought they were neo-Nazi extremists, given his previous interaction with people in the far-right movement.

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

Desmond Liddington is the leader of a neo-Nazi group called Firm 22. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

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

Mr Gibson said, “no, Paddy is not here” before one of the men responded, “are you Paddy?”.

The men bashed on the door and Mr Gibson feared they were trying to break-in and he and his wife would be attacked.

The couple rushed to the back of the house, locked the back door and moved into a bedroom before police were called.

The men allegedly tore off the front security screen door, smashed a window, a glass table on the balcony was overturned and items thrown around the area.

He will be sentenced next year. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

CCTV vision recorded the men walk away from the front door and down the street, with the incident drawing the attention of neighbours.

Police attended and established a crime scene with Ferrer’s fingerprints identified on the glass table.

He was arrested at his Greenwell Point home on March 29.

Liddington was arrested and his house was searched on April 27 where a number of items which had Firm 22 symbols and branding were discovered.

He will be sentenced on January 24.