Benefits investigator raised concerns about missing Margaret in 2012

A benefits investigator has told a murder trial she flagged up worries about missing Margaret Fleming in 2012.

Sarah Deegan, a member of the Department of Work and Pensions visiting team, was giving evidence at the trial of Edward Cairney, 77, and Avril Jones, 58, who deny murdering Margaret when she was 19 at the home they shared at Seacroft, Main Road, Inverkip, between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.

She told the High Court in Glasgow that she visited Seacroft on June 18, 2012 and spoke to Jones after Margaret failed to turn up for a medical.

Mrs Deegan told the jury she was troubled about the visit and afterwards telephoned the social work department in Greenock.

She was asked by prosecutor Iain McSporran QC why she had done this and replied: “I just felt something wasn't right.”

Mrs Deegan added: “I contacted the social work department in Greenock and made a referral as I was concerned about Margaret Fleming's and Miss Jones' living conditions and state of mind.”

The DWP employee said she had called at the house to try to discover why Margaret had not gone for a medical.

She said: “Miss Jones said that every time Miss Fleming got word about a medical she would say she would go, but on the day she would throw a strop and would just point blank refuse to go.”

Mr McSporran asked: “Where was Margaret that day.” and she replied: “I have no idea. I asked to see her because I started to get uncomfortable about some of the answers I was getting. It was instinct.

“She said I couldn't see Miss Fleming because she was ill and she wouldn't come out.”

The witness also described the living cnditions in the house as 'awful."

Mrs Deegan told the court she explained that if Margaret did not attend for a medical she could lose her benefits.

Mr McSporran asked: “Do you know if anything was ever done by social work, was any action taken,” and Mrs Deegan said: “No.”

Nurse Jacqueline Kennedy, who assesses benefits patients, told the court she visited Seacroft on July 13, 2016 to assess Jones, who had applied for disability benefits.

Mr McSporran said: “Who did she say lived in the house with her,” and Mrs Kennedy replied: “She said she lived there with her partner.”

The prosecutor then asked: “Was there any mention of anyone else living there or a frequent visitor,” and the witness replied: “No.”

Mr McSporran then said: “Would you be surprised to learn she was in receipt of carer's allowance for another person,” and she replied: “Yes, I would have been.”

Earlier postman Brian English who delivered mail to Seacroft from 2012 to 2106 said he only ever saw letters address to Cairney or Jones.

Cairney and Jones deny murdering Margaret by means unknown. They also deny claiming £182,000 in benefits fraud by pretending she was alive.

The trial before Lord Matthews continues.