A dad took his own life after claims were made on Facebook about him being a paedophile, an inquest heard. Anthony Haley, 41, went missing Cornwall on September 22, 2021 and his body was found in woods later that month on September 30.
Anthony was described as a "funny and outgoing joker of the pack" who was 'shocked' at the allegations made online, CornwallLive reports. His partner said he had no other concerns but went missing shortly after the claims and never returned home.
An inquest into the death of the dad and South West Water employee heard from his partner Leeann Notley. Ms Notley told the inquest how she met Anthony when they were in Poltair School together but went different ways in life, with Mr Haley joining the Royal Navy and moving away and them both entering other marriages.
However, they spoke whenever they bumped into each other when he returned home and they eventually started talking on Facebook and entered into a relationship together. Ms Notley said: “He’s always been funny, outgoing and well-liked. At school he was the joker of the pack.”
She described how they got together in 2019 adding that Mr Haley returned home to live the following year. She said: “The relationship got stronger and stronger and we always had a laugh together and would walk down the street hand in hand. We were a bit like passing ships with work but always made the most of the time we had together."
Ms Notley went on to state how shortly before Mr Haley went missing there was a falling out with his ex-wife Tracey and claims were made by someone on Facebook that he was a paedophile and took a girl’s virginity. After seeing the online allegations, he told Ms Notley he was shocked and didn’t know what to do.
He went missing in St Austell, Cornwall, shortly after, falsely telling his employee that his partner had had a seizure and he needed to be with her but he never returned home and his body was found in Pentewan Woods more than a week later. Ms Notley added: “He had no other concerns and when he left home he was his usual self.”
The inquest then heard from Mr Haley’s mum Lynette Haley. She spoke of her son as someone who was “popular and had many friends”. She described his relationship with his ex-wife as volatile and the inquest was told that Tracey had mental health issues herself.
Anthony was said to have been enjoying life at South West Water and living back in Cornwall before the allegations – which "really upset Ant" – were made. His mum described how he would try and keep the peace with Tracey. Ms Haley said her son was “greatly missed and loved by us all”.
A statement from Tracey described how her marriage with Ms Haley was volatile and broke down due to his alcohol consumption and affairs. She said after the allegations were made online he came to her house where he was showed the message. She said: “His face dropped and he went as white as a ghost. He said ‘what the f**k’ and that he had to go.”
A police officer told the inquest that the allegation had been reported to them and that a number of suicide notes were found with Mr Haley’s body.
Senior coroner for Cornwall Andrew Cox said there was no evidence of any third party involvement or suspicious circumstances around Anthony’s death. He returned a conclusion of suicide before expressing his condolences to the family.
