Man spent $17k on Abernethy fire investigation, inquest told
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A coronial inquest has heard a Cessnock man spent $17, 000 conducting his own investigation into the fatal Abernethy fire in 2002.
A Sydney man died and 13 homes were destroyed in the blaze.
A new inquest was opened after Cessnock man Gary Pryce made claims there had been a Rural Fire Service cover-up relating to one of its volunteers possibly starting the fire.
Mr Pryce started his own investigation after attending the first inquest in 2004, which found the fire had been deliberately lit.
Yesterday the court heard he placed several ads in the local paper asking for people to come forward with information about the fire and even offered a $20,000 reward if it led to a conviction.
He admitted to the court he was obsessed with his investigation and it consumed his life for three years.
Mr Pryce said everyone affected deserved to know the truth.
