Close friend of missing Margaret Fleming's carers reveals she 'hasn't ever met her'

Police have begun digging up a backyard of their seek for a lacking girl whose carers are the one individuals to have seen her previously 17 years.

It got here as a detailed good friend of Edward Cairney, 75, and Avril Jones, 56, revealed that she by no means noticed Margaret Fleming regardless of making frequent visits to her carers' dwelling.

The 'susceptible' 36-year-old, who has studying difficulties, was reported lacking six weeks in the past by Mr Cairney and Ms Jones.

However their good friend of virtually 30 years, Rosemary Connelly, stated she typically went to the home Ms Fleming is known to have shared together with her carers for 20 years and by no means noticed her. She stated she additionally solely ever heard her title talked about as soon as. 

'Susceptible': Margaret Fleming (left), 36, who has studying difficulties, was reported lacking by her carers Edward Cairney, 75, and Avril Jones (proper) in Inverkip in Inverclyde six weeks in the past

Police are digging up a backyard as they seek for Ms Fleming following her disappearance

In addition to looking the cottage the place Ms Fleming lived in Inverkip, Inverclyde, police have begun digging up a backyard within the hope of unearthing clues as to the explanation behind her disappearance.

Detectives from Police Scotland's main investigations group have established that, other than her carers, the final impartial sighting of Ms Fleming was at a household gathering on December 17, 1999.

Police say they're preserving an open thoughts however consider she 'could have come to some hurt'. Ms Fleming was utterly unknown to individuals residing in Inverkip.

She is alleged to have moved in together with her carers in 1997. However in accordance with the Day by day File, Ms Connelly claims she, Mr Cairney and Ms Jones went on month-long holidays collectively throughout which she by no means noticed Ms Fleming.

Ms Connelly, who has been associates with Ms Jones for nearly 30 years, stated: 'I by no means met her or seen her.

Shut good friend: Rosemary Connelly (pictured) typically went to the home Margaret Fleming is known to have shared with carers Edward Cairney, 75, and Avril Jones, 56

'Margaret didn't go on the vacations with us. I by no means noticed her on the home. After we went to their home we sat in the lounge.

'There might have been another person upstairs, I don't know.'

She stated Ms Jones did point out Margaret as soon as 'as a result of she hadn't went to varsity or one thing', earlier than including: 'I don't consider something sinister has gone on.' 

Ms Fleming was final seen in public on Devember 17 1999, and was reported lacking on October 28 this 12 months.

Ms Connelly, who met Ms Jones and Mr Cairney within the late 1980s, stated she wasn't even conscious Ms Fleming lived with the couple.

She and her late husband had been residing in Inverkip when Ms Jones and Mr Cairney took over a lodge.

She stated: 'Edward had some huge cash. He had properties and companies.

'He additionally was very into diving. They took over the native lodge and my husband and I lived within the space so we might generally go for a drink and that is how we met them.' 

In addition to looking the cottage the place Ms Fleming lived in Inverkip police have begun digging up a backyard within the hope of unearthing clues as to the explanation behind her disappearance

Search: Police are at the moment excavating the backyard at Ms Fleming's dwelling in a bid to search out clues

Detectives from Police Scotland's main investigations group have established that, other than her carers, the final impartial sighting of Ms Fleming was at a household gathering again in 1999

Commentary: Ms Connelly additionally stated the couple's backyard at their cottage was properly taken care of

Ms Connelly additionally stated the couple's backyard at their cottage was properly taken care of. Police are at the moment excavating the backyard in a bid to search out clues. 

It's believed Ms Fleming lived together with her father in Port Glasgow earlier than he died in October 1995.

She then lived together with her grandparents and mom however moved in with carers in 1997, and has been estranged from her mom ever since.

It's believed Ms Fleming (pictured) lived together with her father in Port Glasgow earlier than he died

Specialist search groups have been 'rigorously sifting by means of the home' the place Ms Fleming is believed to dwell together with her two carers to search out any documentation, clothes and private gadgets that would assist in the search.

A police helicopter, canine unit and dive groups have additionally been looking throughout Inverclyde.

Police stated the search of the home in Essential Highway will now lengthen into the backyard and can 'contain some excavation work'.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone stated: 'Margaret did have a non-public aspect to her life that even her carers did not learn about.

'They know she went out, they know she had associates however she stored it very a lot personal and to an extent secretive from them.

'We all know that Margaret went to James Watt Faculty in Greenock between 1996 and 1998 and have traced a number of of her classmates and associates, together with lecturers.

'Nonetheless it might properly be that Margaret had different associates from that period and we're fairly eager to talk to them.

'She was described as being very fairly however very nice. She bought alongside and she or he had no disagreements or fall outs.

Forensics: It comes two days after it was revealed police are to dig up a backyard as they seek for Ms Fleming, who has studying difficulties, six weeks after she was reported lacking

Detectives have established that, other than her carers, the final impartial sighting of Ms Fleming was at a household gathering on December 17, 1999. A police search is now underway

Police say they're preserving an open thoughts however assume Ms Fleming 'could have come to some hurt'

'She might have a double life for all we all know.'

DCI Livingstone stated: 'There is not any indication that there had been any fallout, any upset or disturbance.'

When requested if the carers had been suspected of involvement in Ms Fleming's disappearance, DCI Livingstone added: 'There is not any proof of any crime being dedicated, the carers are persevering with to help us with our enquiries.

Search groups: Police forensic officers start excavating the backyard of Margaret Fleming

'They have been helping at each stage, we had been talking with them just a few days in the past and so they're attempting to offer as a lot help as attainable.

'They're naturally upset and anxious about Margaret, it has been over six weeks now.

'We've got to maintain an open thoughts that Margaret could have come to some kind of hurt.'

'Nonetheless, we can not rule something out at this level and officers will proceed to observe up enquiries about the place Margaret has been. 

'I have to stress that that is nonetheless a lacking particular person investigation.

'Our search will proceed from the home into the grounds round it. It is a pure development within the inquiry to help our investigation to search out Margaret.' 

Ms Fleming is described as 5ft 5ins with a heavy construct, collar-length black hair and brown eyes.

When reported lacking on October 28 she was stated to be sporting a inexperienced tartan fleece or jumper, dark-coloured denims or trousers, darkish Karrimor boots and was carrying a satchel-type purse.

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