Missing Larrimah man Paddy Morriarty’s case referred to DPP after inquest revelations

The conviction of Chris Dawson, who was last month found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette, has renewed hope of an outcome in the unsolved case of missing NT man Paddy Moriarty.

Paddy Moriarty in Larrimah. Picture: Helen Orr

Police have referred the unsolved case of missing Northern Territory man Paddy Moriarty to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will determine whether there is evidence to prosecute one or more of his neighbours over his disappearance.

Moriarty, 70, went missing from the tiny town of Larrimah, 500km south of Darwin, in ­December 2017. He was last seen leaving the Larrimah Hotel on his quad bike with his dog Kellie, heading towards his nearby home.

Earlier this year, an inquest into Moriarty’s death concluded that he was “killed in the context of and likely due to an ongoing feud he had with his nearest neighbours” – Fran Hodgetts, 79, and her then-gardener Owen Laurie, 76 – but no arrest was made.

The inquest heard Moriarty had been in a decade-long argument with Ms Hodgetts, who ­operated a Devonshire teahouse across the road from his home, and had also argued with Mr ­Laurie, who was living on her premises at the time he vanished.

The inquest heard police placed a listening device in Mr Laurie’s residence and eight recordings were played in court. In them, a man can be heard saying: “I killerated old Paddy … I struck him on the f..king head and killerated the bastard … basherated him”, and “F..king killed Paddy, hit him on the head. Smacked him on the f..king nostrils with my claw hammer.”

Mr Laurie denied the voice on the tape was his and denied any involvement in Moriarty’s death. Ms Hodgetts has also denied involvement in his death.

A spokesperson for the NT Director of Public Prosecutions last week confirmed the case had been referred to it, but would not give a statement or update on the case; NT police could not comment on the status of the investigation.

One reason the case has been challenging for police is that Moriarty’s remains have never been found, but the recent conviction of Chris Dawson, 74, found guilty in Aug­ust of murdering his first wife, Lynette, has renewed hope of an outcome. She disappeared in 1982 and her remains have never been recovered.

Moriarty’s friend Karen Rayner said she had been watching coverage of the Dawson case with interest. “I had hoped [Dawson] would be found guilty as it gives us hope Paddy too could get justice,” she said. “It would allow us to sleep better at night, that’s for sure.

“I truly do hope there is justice for Paddy.”

The Dawson case is one of many examples of body-absent murder convictions in Australia.

Bond University associate professor of criminology Terry Goldsworthy said in his 28-year policing career, he had been involved in investigating three cases in which a perpetrator was convicted of murder or manslaughter without the victim’s body being found.

“The body is an important source of direct evidence,” Dr Goldsworthy said. “In cases where a body has not been found, there is generally not a definitive crime scene, so there may be little or no physical evidence, but it is still possible … to get a conviction.

“In these sorts of cases, opportunity and motive do become very important.”

Forensic criminologist and QUT senior lecturer Claire Ferguson has researched no-body convictions for people who went missing between 1983 and 2017. In 25 out of the 55 cases she studied, there was eventually a murder or manslaughter conviction.

She said a variety of factors were at play and that overall, Australia had a high rate of convictions in body-absent cases compared with other countries.

“I think it’s part of the Aussie spirit and the spirit behind our policing agencies that we don’t let these things go easily,” Dr Ferguson said.

She said the low homicide rate in Australia also meant police were able to devote more resources to long-term missing persons investigations. However, in rural and regional areas, which have low population density, fewer witnesses and less ready access to police resources, the harsh Australian landscape is an impediment for police. “Landscape and environment play a role in how successful people are in getting away with disposing of bodies.”

Dr Ferguson’s research also found the road to conviction was often lengthy, taking about seven years on average.

“Given that most people are going to be reported missing the day they go missing, or within a few days, seven years is a long time for someone to be missing and someone not to be held accountable,” she said.

The NT has an interesting history of no-body convictions with mixed outcomes.

Bradley John Murdoch was found guilty of the 2001 murder of Peter Falconio and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Lindy Chamberlain, wrong­fully convicted of the murder of her nine-week-old daughter Azaria at Uluru in 1980, had her conviction quashed in 1988 when new evidence came to light.

In 2021, NT police announced a $250,000 reward relating to Moriarty’s disappearance.

Anyone with information can call NT Police on 131 444 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 444.