Margaret Fleming's killer Avril Jones dies in prison

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 17:02 · Archive

Avril Jones, who murdered vulnerable teenager Margaret Fleming, has died in prison aged 66.

Avril Jones, aged 66, has died at HMP Stirling on 8 November while serving a life sentence for the murder of Margaret Fleming. Margaret was a teenager with learning difficulties who was placed in the care of Jones and her partner Edward Cairney after her father died in 1995. The pair murdered Margaret between December 1999 and January 2000 at their home in Inverkip, Inverclyde, using means that have never been established. They were convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The murder came to light only in 2016, more than 20 years after Margaret was last seen alive. Officials discovered the crime when they were unable to contact Margaret after she failed to attend an appointment to reapply for disability benefits. An investigation found that no one from social services had been in contact with her for 17 years. Jones and Cairney had pocketed £182,000 in benefits by falsely claiming Margaret was alive.

Margaret's remains have never been found, despite repeated appeals for those responsible to reveal where her body is buried. Both Jones and Cairney refused to divulge any details about her death before their deaths in prison. Edward Cairney, aged 82, died at HMP Edinburgh on 15 October 2023.

How it is being reported

• Carer who murdered vulnerable teenager and claimed her benefits dies in jailAvril Jones, 66, and her partner Edward Cairney murdered the vulnerable teenager around the turn of the century.BBC Glasgow And West · 9 Nov, 17:07
• Margaret Fleming's evil killer Avril Jones dies in prison as her body remains missingMargaret Fleming’s killer Avril Jones has died in prison.Glasgow Times · 9 Nov, 16:33
• Margaret Fleming’s evil killer dies in prison while serving life sentence for her murderAvril Jones died at HMP Stirling on Sunday, November 8.Glasgow Live · 9 Nov, 16:02

In this story: Margaret Fleming · Avril Jones · Edward Cairney · HMP Stirling · Inverkip · Inverclyde · Scotland

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log