Margaret Fleming's killer Edward Cairney dies in prison with body location secret
Edward Cairney, convicted of murdering Margaret Fleming, died at HMP Edinburgh in October, taking the secret of her body's location to the grave. A fatal accident inquiry is set to follow.
Margaret Fleming killer dies in custody, body location still unknown
Edward Cairney, 82, died at HMP Edinburgh on 15 October last year while serving a life sentence for the murder of Margaret Fleming — a vulnerable 19-year-old who was killed more than two decades ago, dailyrecord.co.uk reports. Prison records have since revealed he was suffering from multiple serious health conditions at the time of his death, succumbing to "complications of acute bronchopneumonia, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus."
A sheriff is set to examine the full circumstances of his death, and the Scottish Prison Service has confirmed a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal. A spokesperson said: "A fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course."
Convicted alongside accomplice
Cairney and his accomplice Avril Jones, 63, were both convicted in 2019 of murdering Margaret between December 1999 and January 2000. The couple had taken Margaret into their care at their rundown house in Inverkip, Renfrewshire, following the death of her father Derek — a friend of the pair — in 1995. Margaret had learning difficulties and had not been seen for approximately 20 years before her disappearance came to light.
Her case only surfaced when she was required to reapply for disability benefits and officials were unable to reach her. Police visited the couple's home, triggering a missing-person investigation. It subsequently emerged that no one from social services had been in contact with Margaret for at least 17 years.
Fraudulent benefit claims and financial penalties
During their trial, it emerged that Jones had fraudulently claimed £182,000 in benefits by pretending for nearly two decades that Margaret was still alive. Both Cairney and Jones were sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.
Prosecutors pursued financial recovery proceedings in 2023. Jones was ordered to repay more than £3,000 of the £182,000 she had fraudulently obtained, with provisions in place to seize further money and assets. Cairney was found to have benefited by more than £24,000 and was ordered to repay the full amount. Court officials confirmed both sums had been paid in full at the time of Cairney's death.
Body never recovered
Despite extensive searches of the property in Inverkip, Margaret's remains have never been found. Her family and friends had urged Cairney to disclose the location of her body as his health deteriorated, but he died without revealing it. Following his death, those close to Margaret called on Jones — still serving her sentence — to break her silence and finally provide answers.
The site in Inverkip where Margaret lived with Cairney and Jones before her murder has since been demolished. Planning permission is now being sought to construct four new residential properties on the land.
Inquiry findings and systemic failures
An independent inquiry conducted last year concluded that Margaret "was invisible" at the time she was murdered. A review into how her case was handled urged local authorities to ensure that people with learning difficulties are not "hidden in plain sight." The case has raised persistent questions about the adequacy of oversight for vulnerable individuals in private care arrangements.
Jones, now 66, is currently held at HMP Stirling, where she continues to serve her life sentence. She has not disclosed any details regarding Margaret's whereabouts.
Source: The Sun