Northern Ireland

Inquest into killing of pensioners may be 'premature'

Marjorie and Michael Cawdery
Marjorie and Michael Cawdery Marjorie and Michael Cawdery

AN inquest into the killing of an elderly couple in their own home in Co Armagh may not been needed, a coroner has said.

Michael and Marjorie Cawdery, both aged 83, were killed in Portadown in 2017 by Thomas Scott McEntee who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

McEntee (41) pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility, and in June was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison.

The court had heard that authorities missed chances to take him off the streets.

An independent review is being set up by the Public Health Agency and the Health and Social Care Board.

In court yesterday, coroner Patrick McGurgan said the review could mean an inquest is not required.

He said it would be "premature" for him to decide on whether to have an inquest given the launch of the review.

The court heard the Cawdery family were prepared to wait for the outcome of the independent probe.

Mr McGurgan requested a timetable on how long the planned review is expected to take.

The Cawderys died in what a court heard was a sustained, frenzied and gratuitous attack that included the use of six knives.

After attacking the couple, McEntee stole their car and drove off in the direction of Killycomain Road.

Before the killings, police received reports about McEntee walking naked along the road between Bessbrook and Newry.

He was taken to Daisy Hill Hospital but was not admitted, and instead was brought to Craigavon in an ambulance with a police escort.

But while waiting to be assessed in the emergency department, he got up and left and a short time later was in the Cawderys' home, near the hospital.