Inquest begins into disappearance of Larrimah man, Paddy Moriarty

THE detective spearheading the investigation into the suspected killing of Larrimah man Paddy Moriarty has told an inquest his body would have been found “if he was above ground”

An inquest has begun into the disappearance of Larrimah man, Paddy Moriarty

THE detective spearheading the investigation into the suspected killing of Larrimah man Paddy Moriarty has told an inquest his body would have been found “if he was above ground”.

Paddy, 70, disappeared without a trace just before Christmas last year, his back door unlocked and his bed looking as if it had been sat on, but not slept in.

Detective Sergeant Matt Allen told the inquest he and his colleagues had taken almost 100 statements as part of the investigation into Paddy’s disappearance, which remains ongoing.

Virtually every resident of Larrimah will be called to give evidence during a two-day inquest at the Katherine Local Court, which on Thursday heard a series of accounts of tensions which divide the town.

The inquest has heard two sides of Paddy, one that he was a “happy go lucky bloke” and the other that he had an “Irish temper” after a few beers.

Police have presumed Paddy to be dead since a week after he was last seen, but the cause of his suspected death remains a mystery steeped in innuendo, tragedy and fascination.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Kelvin Currie, said Paddy, slight of frame but relatively healthy for his age, planned to stay in Larrimah for Christmas last year.

Coroner Greg Cavanagh called an inquest into Paddy’s death in a shorter than usual time after his disappearance given the old age of most of the witnesses.

More to come…