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Woman to stand trial for the murder of Greenisland pensioner Eddie Girvan

Eddie Girvan who was found dead at his home in Station Road, Greenisland. Picture by Pacemaker
Eddie Girvan who was found dead at his home in Station Road, Greenisland. Picture by Pacemaker Eddie Girvan who was found dead at his home in Station Road, Greenisland. Picture by Pacemaker

A 30-year old woman is to stand trial for the murder of a Co Antrim pensioner who was bound, gagged and stabbed to death in his home earlier this year.

Margaret Henderson-McCarroll appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday where she denied murdering Greenisland man Eddie Girvan.

The 67-year old was killed in his Station Road home on January 18. Henderson-McCarroll - whose address was given as Hydebank Young Offenders' Centre - denied a total of ten charges arising from Mr Girvan's death, including stealing the victim's car.

During the hearing Crown prosecutor Charles McCreanor QC outlined the case against Henderson-McCarroll, telling the court the accused had admitted being in the victim's company and "made admissions to leaving him bound and gagged."

Mr McCreanor also said nine other charges faced by Henderson-McCarroll - including attempting to steal money from Mr Girvan the day before he was killed as well as taking his car after his death and crashing it in Belfast city centre - were "part and parcel" of the same incident.

The prosecutor told the court Henderson-McCarroll admitted being in Mr Girvan's company "over the space of the weekend". He also revealed it was the prosecution's case that an argument about money led to the death.

Mr McCreanor said it was the Crown's case that Henderson-McCarroll stabbed Mr Girvan, left him bound and gagged then "left the scene" at around 7.15am on January 18.

He also said it was the Crown's case that she drove off in Mr Girvan's car, and later caused a collision in the centre of Belfast where she then drove off and made her way to her address at Verner Street where Mr Girvan's car was eventually located.

Henderson-McCarroll was charged with, and denied, all ten charges. As they were read out in court yesterday she replied "not guilty" to all the charges.

Among the charges she denied were murder, attempting to steal £20 from the victim the day before his death and stealing a number of items - including a Satnav, a watch, a ring and a digital camera - from Mr Girvan on the day he died.

Henderson-McCarroll also denied seven motoring offences. These included aggravated vehicle taking, driving while unfit, dangerous driving on roads between the M5 and Verner Street, and failing to both remain at the scene of and report an accident where damage was caused to another car.

Defence barrister John McCrudden QC spoke of the "voluminous" evidence in the case and said he would be instructing several experts such as an engineer, a psychiatrist and a toxicologist.

Revealing the trial is expected to last three weeks, Mr McCrudden said a probable date for the trial would be next March.

Mr Justice Treacy however spoke of his hope that the trial would take place sooner, and listed the case for review at the end of November.