Paddy Moriarty: Larrimah inquest hears of death threats against missing man by pie shop owner
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Almost the entire population of a tiny outback town have been called as witnesses at an inquest into the suspected death of Paddy Moriarty, with many giving evidence about ongoing feuds and death threats.
The inquest heard Paddy Moriarty, 70, was last seen leaving his local pub the Pink Panther on December 16, 2017, in the Northern Territory town of Larrimah, about 500km south of Darwin.
A tourist who gave Mr Moriarty a barbecue chicken for his dog was the last person to see him alive.
An extensive police search of the town, local rubbish tip, and nearby dam failed to uncover any trace of Mr Moriarty, and only seven months later a coronial inquest was established, because many of the town's resident are elderly, said Kelvin Currie, counsel assisting the coroner.
Mr Moriarty's car, quad bike, and reading glasses were all left behind, and food was left out for his kelpie, Kellie, who is also missing.
Photo:
A missing poster about Paddy Moriarty on the wall at Larrimah pub. (ABC News: Kristy O'Brien)
Many of the town's residents told the inquest Mr Moriarty was set in his daily routine, and when he did not turn up at the pub one day, and his house appeared as though he never left it, they raised the alarm.
Mr Moriarty's hat was also left behind — an important fact, those who were close to him have said, because he never went anywhere without it.
Larrimah has a population of about 12 people, most of whom have been called to give evidence.
The inquest heard the town has been beset by ongoing feuds between Mr Moriarty and other residents, as revealed to the ABC earlier this year.
One dispute continued for years over the sale of meat pies at the local pub which came up in competition against local pie shop owner Fran Hodgetts.
Tales of retribution also surfaced, with pet peacocks being fed to crocodiles and pet buffalo being made into pies.
Police had earlier said they believed Mr Moriarty was dead.
Larrimah resident Bobbi Roth told the hearing that when she worked for Ms Hodgetts, her boss spoke of killing Mr Moriarty.
"She used to say, 'I'll kill Paddy'," Ms Roth told the court.
"And she said she'd also kill her husband Bill."
Ms Roth's husband, Carl Roth, said he did not believe Ms Hodgetts had any murderous intent behind the threat.
Another resident, Mark Raynor, said that to say the community was "fragmented" was an understatement.
He told the court Mr Moriarty had described Ms Hodgetts as "a demon" in the past.
The inquest continues.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, missing-person, police, community-and-society, courts-and-trials, larrimah-0852
