Marion Barter inquest: Family told to ‘stop looking’ for mum’

An inquest has heard a “caring” mother who disappeared told authorities she did not want her family to know where she was.

A “caring” mother who vanished under strange circumstances told authorities she did not want her family to know her location, a court has heard.

The puzzling disappearance of mother-of-three Marion Barter - the ex-wife of soccer great Johnny Warren - who disappeared 24 years ago, is in its second week of evidence before the NSW Coroner’s Court.

The Gold Coast teacher’s family and friends, including her daughter Sally Leydon, were stumped when their mother stopped calling after flying to the UK for a year-long holiday in July 1997.

Missing mother Marion Barter.

Marion Barter and her two children Sally and Owen.

Ms Leydon contacted police after Marion strangely missed her son’s birthday in October 1997.

The family later learned Marion had changed her name before leaving to Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel.

And her passport was used to re-enter Australia just a few weeks after she left, with large sums of cash withdrawn from banks in Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads.

On Wednesday, the court heard a police officer contacted Marion’s family a week after the report was made, to say they had spoken with Marion - and she did not want anything to do with her family.

“They said they found my mother who didn’t want anyone to know where she was and what she was doing,” Ms Leydon told the court.

“I had a meltdown … I was upset and unsure of what was going on.”

Marion Barter.

She said her grandfather, John Wilson, was not satisfied with this response and took charge of the search for his daughter.

Ms Leydon said Mr Wilson told her in February, 1988, he too had heard Marion did not want to speak with them - The Salvation Army this time delivering the harsh news.

“You can tell them to stop looking for me in Byron Bay because I’m far, far away. And you can tell Sally I’m upset with her for not putting money in my account for the car,” Ms Leydon was told her mother said when contacted.

“I think that was the basis the family believed it was her, and kind of stopped looking for her.”

Ms Leydon had organised to transfer money into Marion’s bank account after she sold her car, but she had not sold it yet.

Leslie Loveday told the court the behaviour was out of character for her “beautiful” neighbour and friend.

“Someone said they found her and she didn’t want anything to do with family or friends. Marion cared deeply about her family. I still don’t understand why that was said,” Ms Loveday told the court.

The inquest continues on Thursday before Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan.