Avril Jones, a carer who murdered a vulnerable 19-year-old Margaret Fleming and fraudulently claimed her benefits for years, has died in HMP Stirling on Sunday. Jones and her partner Edward Cairney were convicted of the murder in 2019. The teenager's body has never been found despite police and her family's pleas.
Margaret Fleming went to live with the couple in Inverkip after her father died in 1995. Her last confirmed sighting was in December 1999. The couple concocted numerous stories, including that she ran off with a traveller, became a gangmaster who travelled around Europe, and was a drug dealer with several aliases. Between her disappearance and the alarm being raised, Jones claimed £182,000 in benefits.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who interviewed the killers when he was a journalist, said: "Margaret Fleming was a vulnerable and innocent young woman who fell into the hands of two monsters. With both of her killers now dead, the only tears that should be shed today are in Margaret's memory. The refusal of Cairney and Jones to ever reveal the location of her remains confirms that they didn't possess an ounce of decency or compassion."
A fatal accident inquiry is likely to be held, as is standard after deaths in custody. Cairney died in 2023 at age 82.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The death of Avril Jones closes a chapter in a case that highlighted failures in protecting vulnerable individuals and detecting long-term fraud.
- Despite two convictions, Margaret Fleming's family still lack closure as her remains have never been located.
- The case raises questions about how a killing and benefit fraud could go undetected for over a decade.
Background
Margaret Fleming, 19, moved in with Avril Jones and Edward Cairney in Inverkip after her father died in 1995. She was last seen alive in December 1999. The couple failed to report her missing for 17 years, claiming her benefits fraudulently. Her body has never been found, and the case became one of Scotland's most notable missing persons investigations. Jones and Cairney were convicted of murder in 2019.
What to Watch
- A fatal accident inquiry into Jones's death is expected.
- The location of Margaret Fleming's remains is still unknown.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAvril Jones murdered 19-year-old Margaret Fleming.BBC Scotland: “A woman who murdered a vulnerable teenager in her care and covered up the killing for years while fraudulently claiming her benefits has died in prison.”
- SupportedJones fraudulently claimed Fleming’s benefits for years.BBC Scotland: “A woman who murdered a vulnerable teenager in her care and covered up the killing for years while fraudulently claiming her benefits has died in prison.”
- SupportedJones died in prison on Sunday.BBC Scotland: “The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has now confirmed Jones died in HMP Stirling on Sunday.”
- SupportedJones was 66 and died at HMP Stirling.BBC Scotland: “Avril Jones, 66, and her partner Edward Cairney - who died aged 82 in 2023 - murdered Margaret Fleming around the turn of the century.”
- SupportedJones and Cairney were convicted of the murder in 2019.BBC Scotland: “She and Cairney were convicted of the murder in 2019.”
- SupportedFleming’s body has never been found, despite police and her family pleading with the killers to reveal where it is.BBC Scotland: “Her body has never been found despite the police and Margaret's family pleading to the killers to reveal the location of her remains.”
- SupportedJones claimed £182,000 in benefits between Fleming’s disappearance and the alarm being raised.BBC Scotland: “Between her disappearance and the alarm being raised, Jones claimed £182,000 in benefits.”
- SupportedRussell Findlay said: “Margaret Fleming was a vulnerable and innocent young woman who fell into the hands of two monsters.”BBC Scotland: “Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who interviewed the killers when he was a journalist, said: "Margaret Fleming was a vulnerable and innocent young woman who fell into the hands of two monsters.”
- SupportedFindlay said: “With both of her killers now dead, the only tears that should be shed today are in Margaret's memory.”BBC Scotland: “With both of her killers now dead, the only tears that should be shed today are in Margaret's memory.”
- SupportedFindlay said: “The refusal of Cairney and Jones to ever reveal the location of her remains confirms that they didn't possess an ounce of decency or compassion.”BBC Scotland: “The refusal of Cairney and Jones to ever reveal the location of her remains confirms that they didn't possess an ounce of decency or compassion.”
- SupportedA fatal accident inquiry into Jones’s death is likely, as is standard practice after deaths in custody.BBC Scotland: “A fatal accident inquiry into Jones's death is likely to be held, as is standard practice after deaths in custody.”
- SupportedCairney died in 2023 at age 82.BBC Scotland: “Avril Jones, 66, and her partner Edward Cairney - who died aged 82 in 2023 - murdered Margaret Fleming around the turn of the century.”