Northern Territory police offer $250k reward to help crack case of man missing for three years
Police are offering a $250,000 reward for information about a man who went missing in the Northern Territory more than three years ago.
Patrick “Paddy” Moriarty was last seen in the town of Larrimah at dusk on Saturday 16 December 2017 when he left the Larrimah hotel on a quad bike with his red kelpie, Kellie.
There has been no trace of Moriarty or his dog since that day. He was 70 at the time of his disappearance and a regular at the tiny outback town’s sole pub, turning up most days in the morning to help with the cleaning and maintenance before taking up a position at the bar.
His disappearance was reported when he didn’t show up at the pub for two days in a row.
Det Sgt Matthew Allen has led an investigation into Moriarty’s disappearance for three years.
He said the investigation remained focused on establishing what happened to Moriarty and who was responsible.
“Police believe Paddy has been murdered,” Allen said.
“We are offering a reward of $250,000 for information leading to the location of his body and the conviction of the person or people responsible for his death. The case will only be closed when it is solved.”
Allen said police were continuing to follow up information from the public and a number of people had been eliminated from their inquiries.
“Somebody knows what happened,” he said. “A 70-year-old man and his dog don’t just disappear from a tiny outback town.”
Police have also released a photo of Moriarty that was taken at the pub the day he disappeared. He was wear
ing a white singlet, dark shorts, brown thongs and a dark cap.
Large signs advertising the reward have been erected around Larrimah and along the Stuart Highway, in the hope of triggering someone’s memory and starting conversations about what happened to Moriarty.
“Even if you don’t think you have any useful information, the smallest clue might be just what we need to resolve this case,” Allen said.
Anyone with any information, or who was in Larrimah at the time of
Moriarty’s disappearance who hasn’t already come forward, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.