Inquest into disappearance of Allison Neridine Bernard moving ahead

An inquest delayed for several months due to an extensive police search of the area in which a young Cape York mother disappeared in 2013 is now moving ahead.

AN INQUEST delayed for several months due to an extensive police search of the area in which a young Kowanyama mother disappeared in 2013 is moving ahead.

The Cairns Coroner’s Court heard during a second pre-inquest conference that 23-year-old Allison Neridine Bernard disappeared on or about February 10, 2013, from the Archer River Quarry.

Counsel assisting Melia Benn said 28 witnesses would be called for the four-day inquest, which would begin on December 14 and would seek to determine whether or not Ms Bernard was dead, and if so, when and where she died and what caused her death.

Ms Benn said the inquest would also seek to determine in addition to those findings, the circumstances around her death, and if she was deceased, whether the actions of any other person contributed to her death.

Allison Bernard vanished in 2013.

Barrister for Ms Bernard’s family Andrew Hoare said he would be making submissions about the inclusion of a further issue for the inquest to determine, that of “structural issues” that can involve vulnerable first nation women.

Detailing the events leading up to her disappearance in a short opening statement, Ms Benn said it was Archer River Quarry caretaker Thomas Byrnes who was the last to see her alive.

After attending a birthday party at Lockhart River on February 9, the court heard a group of five, including Ms Bernard, arranged to travel to Coen the following day.

It was while stopped for a drink in Archer River that Ms Bernard first met Mr Byrnes, who was the caretaker of the Archer River Quarry and who resided at a work camp there, the court heard.

After stopping, the group continued to Coen, where it was arranged for Ms Bernard to stay with Cindy Thompson, Ms Benn said.

It was at the Exchange Hotel in Coen that Ms Bernard saw Mr Byrnes again.

The Exchange Hotel in Coen, where Allison Bernard left with Thomas Byrnes on the night of February 10, 2013. Picture: Marc McCormack

Later that night, Ms Bernard left the hotel with Mr Byrnes and David Port, who was dropped off at the Archer River Roadhouse, before Ms Bernard and Mr Byrnes continued on to the Archer River Quarry, the court heard.

Ms Benn said the inquest would hear evidence of Ms Bernard and Mr Byrnes' interactions at both Archer River, at the Exchange Hotel, and at the quarry.

Ms Benn said Mr Byrnes raised “unofficial” concerns about Ms Bernard with another resident of Coen the following morning but it was not until February 13 that official concerns for her whereabouts were raised by her aunty Dellis Burns in Coen.

Ms Benn said the first interactions between Mr Byrnes and police occurred on February 13, and he was first formally interviewed shortly after midnight on February 14.

“Thereafter a search and rescue operation commenced. that involved aerial and ground crews, police divers also inspected dams around the quarry, and those searches failed to yield any evidence as to the whereabouts of Ms Bernard,” Ms Benn said.

An inquest was originally planned for July but was delayed by Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson after the court heard police wanted to take a fresh aerial scope of the remote scene during the dry season.

Up to fifty police and SES volunteers scoured 8.5 square kilometres of rough terrain in Archer River over two and a half days in September this year, using specialised drones as well as horses, quad bikes, and nearly 20 four-wheel-drives.

Originally published as Inquest into disappearance of Allison Neridine Bernard moving ahead