Emmerdale Barton family’s biggest tragedies as Moira Dingle faces harrowing health ordeal

The Barton-Dingles will have no respite from any drama next week as a barn fire will leave Moira Dingle between life and death, as spoilers have recently confirmed.

Viewers of the Yorkshire-based soap have grown increasingly concerned for the farmer portrayed by Natalie J Robb as she displayed troubling behaviour, lashing out at her husband Cain Dingle (played by Jeff Hordley). And amid theories that the pair could go their separate, more speculation surfaced around Moira’s health as multiple fans began to wonder if she could be struggling with a drinking problem

In a more recent instalment of the ITV drama, Emmerdale viewers were left with more questions when Moira had a worrying seizure. But with a barn blaze set to wreak havoc in the eponymous village, some fans are afraid she could be one of numerous characters to be left at death’s door. Another tragedy for her nearest and dearest, who have already suffered from multiple losses, deaths and betrayals.

Matty’s gruelling prison ordeal

Earlier this year, Moira’s last remaining son, Matty (Ash Palmisciano), was thrown behind bars after he was accused of stabbing Samson Dingle (Sam Hall). While he was innocent, the mere thought of facing prison for a crime he didn’t commit as a transgender man was enough to terrorise him and the rest of his inner circle.

Both Moira and Matty’s wife Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson) relentlessly fought to try and keep him safe and, luckily, he also received help from a fellow inmate, who kept his gender identity a secret. But not everybody was as welcoming as prison thug Robbo (John O’Neill) demonstrated by bullying the vulnerable character.

The storyline drew to a close when Matty was eventually released from prison, allowing Samson and his pal Josh to finally receive comeuppance for their own actions in the ordeal. Samson was notably sentenced to four years behind bars, exiting Emmerdale after 15 years, for attacking Josh as a result of tensions built up during Matty’s wrongful incarceration.

Holly’s heart-breaking drug abuse

But before Matty was at the core of all her worries, his sister Holly (played by actress Sophie Powles from her debut in 2009) gave Moira a fright due to her drug abuse.

Holly’s gut-wrenching addiction storyline began when she became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug-addict with her recreational use of cocaine, used to cope in the aftermath of her failed romance with Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) in 2010. This unfortunately progressed into a heroin addiction and, desperate to get her fix, Holly notably stole and sold herself for sex to fund her habit.

Though her parents tried to make her quit cold turkey, Holly was eventually caught up with her addiction in September, 2016, when her mother Moira found her dead from a heroin overdose, an empty heroin wrapper on the floor.

The circumstances around Holly’s death remained a mystery until Suzy Merton’s (Martelle Edinborough) arrival in Emmerdale in 2022, as she was revealed to have given Holly the drug that eventually killed her.

Death of two fathers

Moira’s partners have also been the centre of tragedy. Before her explosive brawls with Emmerdale tough man Cain, Moira was married to John Barton, the father of Holly and Matty Barton, whom she married in January, 1990.

For years, he was also believed to be the father of Adam Barton but his brother, James, was unveiled as the lad’s biological father in a shock twist. Holly, Matty and Adam had to wave their father goodbye in 2012, when his car, which he was driving with Moira, slipped on ice and fell into a ravine.

John went into cardiac arrest and doctors vainly tried to perform emergency surgery on him. John eventually breathed his last with his family surrounding him in early 2012. Four years later, his brother James also died after being pushed off a bridge, landing straight on to Ashley Thomas’ car and causing a huge 19-car pile-up as serial killer Emma Barton spiralled.