4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Brother recalls moment he found murdered sister at bottom of quarry & blasts ‘heartbreaking’ 52-year fight for justice
A MAN whose sister’s murder remains unsolved 50 years after her death has blasted their wait for justice.
Marian Beattie was on a night out at a charity dance with her best friend, Nuala Wilson, and her brother Isadore, on March 30, 1973 in Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone.
Marian Beattie’s murder has gone unsolved for close to 52 yearsCollects
She was just 18 when she was last seen by her brother leaving the venue with a boy she had been dancing with and promised to be back at their van by 2am.
But she never returned and her body was found hours later at the bottom of a quarry in just her underwear.
Isadore recalled: “We drove straight to the quarry and the strange thing about it is that when we pulled up to the quarry, we just drove straight to where she was within 50ft, 60ft. . . I could see her lying on the bottom of the quarry.
“My first reaction was to run down and get her and the two policemen said, ‘No don’t, we cannot allow you to go there and get her.’”
He added: “Just looking at her you knew it wasn’t an accident because accidents don’t happen like that.”
It emerged she had been hit with a piece of metal.
Isadore told TG4 documentary Maru Inar Measc: “People will tell you time is a great healer. 50 years later it feels no different. When you take your younger sister away to enjoy herself and bring her home in a coffin, it’s not a good feeling.
“To watch your own mother and father almost collapse in grief, that was one of the most hardest things that has ever happened to me in my life. Gut-wrenching and heartbreaking at the same time.”
The case then went unsolved for decades, until the family convinced the PSNI in 2013 to reopen it, all while they carried out their own investigations. This discovered that evidence was missing.
In 2022, a report was sent to the Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson which identified five possible suspects.
Isadore added: “If somebody can tell me that it takes 50 years to get justice for your sister, for your daughter, there’s something wrong with the system.”
Maru Inar Measc airs on Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.
Marian Beattie was murdered in 1973Social Media Collect
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Irish man, 31, blind for 13 years has sight restored after undergoing revolutionary new gene therapy
AN Irish patient, who was blind for 13 years, has had his sight restored after undergoing revolutionary new gene therapy.
Medics atthe Mater HospitalinDublinadministered the groundbreaking ocular treatment on Stuart Haxell, 31, from CoSligo.
RTEStuart Haxell had his sight restored after 13 years[/caption]
The gene therapy, which received approval for reimbursement inIrelandlast year, has the potential to restore retinal function and vision in patients suffering from inherited retinal dystrophies.
Mr Haxell is functionally blind and has only been able to see a certain amount of light for more than a decade.
He received the first Luxturna treatment in Ireland in November at the Mater Hospital, under the care of Professor David Keegan, consultant ophthalmic surgeon.
Just weeks after the procedure, Stuart is now able to read letters and words again, a recovery described by medical professionals as remarkable.
Describing recovering his sight, he said: “For the first time in over a decade, I can see the world around me.
“Being able to read again is something I never thought possible and my quality of life has been improved.
“I really appreciate Prof Keegan, his team, the Mater Hospital staff and the HSE for giving me this groundbreaking treatment and bringing sight back to me.”
Explaining the procedure, Prof Keegan said: “It’s akin to plugging a television back in.
“The procedure is most effective when administered in childhood before significant retinal degeneration occurs, but as Stuart’s case demonstrates, benefits are not only possible, but significant in adults.”
Inherited retinal dystrophies are very rare with one patient eligible for treatment identified every two to five years.
The team in the Mater is expecting to treat a second patient later this year.
Finbarr Roche, CEO at the charity Fighting Blindness, added: “This monumental advance gives hope to all those people in Ireland living with a visual impairment – the first treatment to reverse sight loss.
“We believe that a lot of sight loss is reversible; and this treatment is a direct result of vision research – and we firstly thank the Irish public who have contributed to vision research in Ireland and abroad.
“Stuart Haxell was identified as a suitable recipient through the database of clinical diagnoses and genetic codes that has been spearheaded by fundraising in Ireland, our Target 5000 project, for all those living with inherited retinal conditions.
“This sends a clear signal to our community and the wider public that investing in scientific research can make possible what used to be accepted as impossible.”
Stuart had also become a major figure in Irish sport, despite his blindness.
He began his tennis journey at 23 and quickly ascended to the top of the national rankings in the B1 category, which is designated for players with complete blindness.
Using a ball equipped with a bell, known as a sound tennis ball, Stuart had previously relied on auditory cues to navigate the game.
His dedication to the sport has led him to represent Ireland on the international stage, including the International Blind Tennis World Championships.
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on The 10 ‘under the radar’ signs of ovarian cancer revealed by top gynaecologist – as ‘silent’ disease kills 200K a year
LIKE many cancers, ovarian cancer has long been known as a ‘silent’ disease.
There are about 7,400 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year, and 4,000 deaths.
Almost six in 10 diagnosed at a late stage – which experts partially put down to the vague symptoms.
Meanwhile globally, the most recent data from 2022 recorded around 324,603 new cases of the disease, with 206,956 deaths.
This makes ovarian cancer one of the deadliest cancers for women, with relatively low survival rates worldwide.
According to figures from Ovarian Cancer Action, only three in 10 women diagnosed with the disease beyond 10 years.
While we do have a very good cervical screening programme in the UK this doesn’t detect ovarian cancer, which is why knowing the symptoms yourself is so important.
“A difficult issue with ovarian cancer is that many of the symptoms are often quite mild, and can be associated with other common conditions,” explained Dr Susanna Unsworth, a top gynaecologistfrom INTIMINA.
“The most well-known symptoms are a bloated feeling, along with abdominal or pelvic pain.
“These symptoms could often be associated with many other problems, and often resolve quickly.”
As March marks ovarian cancer awareness month Dr Susanna has revealed the 10 ‘under-the-radar’ signs of the disease to watch out for before it’s too late.
Urinary symptoms: increased frequency or urgency to pass urine
Bowel changes: a change in bowel habit, either becoming more constipated or having looser stool
A change in appetite or feeling full much more quickly when eating
A change in vaginal bleeding pattern:either in between periods, or after having sex, or developing bleeding after menopause
Nausea and vomiting
“If you experience any of these issues that do not resolve within two to three weeks, I would encourage you to see your doctor,” she explained.
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is where abnormal cells in the ovaries begin to grow and divide, and eventually form a tumour.
If left untreated, these cancer cells can spread into surrounding tissues and make their way to other organs in the body.
“It can affect anyone with ovaries,” Dr Susanna explained.
“However, it is more common in women post menopause, with the risk increasing as women get older,” when the body starts making mistakes.
More than half the cases diagnosed in the UK are in women over the age of 65, according to Cancer Research.
What increases the risk?
Beyond ageing, there are several other factors that can up likelihood of developed ovarian cancer.
“Women who carry a faulty gene (e.g. BRCA genes) are more likely to develop the disease, as well as women who have had a history of endometriosis are at a higher risk,” the doctor said.
There is also some link between the number of periods a woman has and chance of having the disease.
“Women who started their periods early, go through menopause late, or have not used any hormonal contraception (which reduces ovulation) do appear to be also at higher risk,” she added.
There are also lifestyle factors that can also influence risk, including being overweight and smoking.
There is also a very small association with the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although this risk is very small.
“Data mainly from older forms of HRT, showing around 1 extra case for every 1000 women who use HRT for more than 5 years,” she said.
World’s first ovarian cancer vaccine ‘could eliminate the deadly disease’
Scientists at the University of Oxford are creating OvarianVax, a jab which teaches the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of ovarian cancer.
The hope is that the shot could be given to women preventatively on the NHS with the aim of eliminating the disease.
HPV jabs are currently dished out to secondary school children and people at high risk of the virus, cutting their risk of getting conditions linked to HPV – including cervical cancer and genital warts.
Prof Ahmed Ahmed, director of the ovarian cancer cell laboratory at MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford, and his team are working to identify cellular targets for their ovarian cancer vaccine.
They will establish which proteins on the surface of early-stage ovarian cancer cells are most strongly recognised by the immune system, and how effectively the vaccine kills mini-models of ovarian cancer in the lab.
They will then move on to human clinical trials in people with BRCA gene mutations – which massively increase the risk of ovarian cancer – and healthy women in the general population to see if the disease could be prevented.
Cancer Research UK is funding the study with up to £600,000 over the next three years.
Prof Ahmed said that, if the jab is successful, he would expect to start seeing an impact within the next five years.
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on F1 stars’ dizzying 2025 salaries revealed with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton earning nearly DOUBLE nearest rival
MAX VERSTAPPEN and Lewis Hamilton top the list of Formula One’s highest earners – as they prepare for another Championship battle.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton is preparing to make his Ferrari debut after a shock switch from Mercedes.
GettyMax Verstappen remains F1’s top dog – both on the track and earnings[/caption]
SplashLewis Hamilton has made the switch to Ferrari for the upcoming season[/caption]
GettyIt leaves George Russell as Mercedes’ top driver – and he has the salary to prove it[/caption]
Hamilton will be behind the wheel for the first time at the season opener in Melbourne on March 16.
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Meghan Markle keeps ‘reinventing’ herself for cash while clinging to royal links AND using kids for clout, expert slams
FICKLE Meghan Markle has to keep reinventing herself while clinging to her royal links – and she is shamelessly using her kids for clout, an expert claims.
Meghan Markle in the new videoThe As Ever website shows a rare photo of Harry and Meghan’s daughter LilibetThe Mega AgencyMeghan and Prince Harry during Invictus Games in Vancouver last week[/caption]
Announced less than a year ago, the project is now called As Ever, ahead of its official launch to tie in with new Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan next month.
In her Instagram announcement, the duchess, 43, said the change meant she was no longer “limited” to selling products from the part of Santa Barbara where she grew up.
But she failed to touch on the trademark issues that have dogged the launch, with officials saying she cannot have exclusive rights to “American Rivera” going forward.
Royal author Hugo Vickers told The Sun: “I think there’s a lot of sort of jumping in and then rethinking.”
He said this reflects much of the ventures Meghan and Harry, 40, have undertaken since stepping down as working royals in 2020.
“It’s always this sort of rebranding of themselves, and reinventing themselves so that they’re always in view of the public…” he explained.
“It does all seem a little bit…how do you put it? Incredibly commercial. It’s obviously aimed at marketing. But from what I read, all this has happened quite suddenly.
“There’s lots of applications being put in and things being registered, and so forth. I think it’s all a little bit sort of done on the hoof, to be honest.”
Today’s rebrand announcement video – filmed presumably in the Sussexes’ garden in Montecito – features Harry’s voice playfully telling his wife at the start “it’s recording” before she giggles.
Mr Vickers, pointing out the duke also featured briefly in the brand’s introductory video, said he’s still essentially the main draw.
“I was going to say ‘product placing’, but ‘Meghan placing’, I mean, we watch her because she’s married to Prince Harry,” he said.
“That’s the reason we watch her, and really the only reason, to be quite honest.”
He added: “I rather wonder what will happen if ever the day comes when she doesn’t need him. But that’s all in the future.
“I’ve said this a million times, but that is why we watch them – because he is Prince Harry…he’s put her on the map.
“She was quite well known before she got involved with him. But she’s extremely well known as a result of having married Prince Harry. That’s what it’s all about.”
The As Ever website also features a rare photo of their daughter Lilibet, and Mr Vickers said this, unfortunately, feels like a commercial decision as well.
“I’m personally rather against people using their children for advertising purposes, especially when their children are officially members of the Royal Family,” he said.
“They’ve been given princely titles. So, once again it’s exploiting the royal side, and also…we don’t often see the children. In fact, do we ever see them full on?
“We see the back of the head, occasionally, or we see a hand, or we see something. It’s all rather tantalising.
“It’s been like that right since the start. So I suppose that when they do appear it’s like gosh, there they are, they exist.”
Meghan mentions her now-defunct lifestyle blog the Tig – and those who read it in her years before she became a royal – in her Instagram post.
Asked if she would prefer to have found another way to reach her current level of fame, without having had to join and leave the Firm, Mr Vickers was not so sure.
He said: “I think the royal issues were always a part of it, part of her plan.
“I’ve always thought that what she’s seeking is a kind of global recognition which she certainly got based on the fact that she married Prince Harry.”
He said she had a decent platform before as a Hollywood actress, particularly due to the popularity of legal drama Suits, and had been involved in humanitarian efforts prior to being a royal.
But that next step has “ramped it all up”, he said, adding that it’s a shame Meghan and Harry couldn’t have seen the value working within the Firm to get their messages across.
“But she’s moving forward into an area in which she’s probably much more comfortable than she ever was in royal life,” Mr Vickers continued. “I think she’s fairly unstoppable.”
He went on to say: “As anyone knows in public life, what you have to do is just keep going, and she’s certainly good at that.
“I mean nothing stops her, does it? If something goes wrong, she rebrands it and has another try. Well, you know, that’s commendable, actually – that’s what she should do.”
A rep for the Sussexes declined to comment when approached by the Sun.
What do we know about Meghan Markle's new cooking show, With Love, Meghan?
MEGHAN Markle's new Netflix documentary trailer shows her cooking with Hollywood pals.
The Duchess of Sussex gave fans an insight into her show, With Love, Meghan, which airs on January 15.
There will be eight 33 minute episodes featuring a host of Meg’s various Hollywood friends trying her simple, yet “elevated”, food.
A montage of various clips in the nearly two minute video showed Meghan walking through vegetable patches and fields.
She was also filmed browsing through florists hand selecting beautiful flowers for table arrangements, showing off her creative side.
The Duchess even tried her hand at beekeeping, fully suited up, as she collected honey.
In the exciting new trailer, Meghan shared: “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it.
“Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of them.
“I’m going to share some little tips and tricks. I see what colour I gravitate to, and everything goes from there. And how you incorporate these practices every day.
“This is about connecting with friends.. I love that we’re doing this together for the first time. Making new friends.. and just learning.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection. We’re in the pursuit of joy. I have to get it totally wrong, to get it totally right.”
The trailer showcased many “candid” moments, from Meghan accidentally squeezing some lemon juice in her eye, to knocking freshly baked goodies off a plate.
Prince Harry featured at the end of the video, embracing his wife in a warm hug.
Iain Stirling was missing from last night’s Love Island All Stars finalRexitvIt was a tense final which saw Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen scoop the crown[/caption]
itvIain Stirling wasn’t there to help Maya Jama crown the new winners[/caption]
InstagramThe narrator made a joke that he had been left out of the final[/caption]
Rather than making a special appearance in South Africa alongside hostMaya Jama, the popularITV2voiceover artist stayed back in Blighty.
Iain, 37, has been the famous voice of the series since 2015 and is popular for his cheeky quips and sarcastic jibes.
He has also worked on the US series of Love Island alongside his duties on the UK programme.
However, instead of celebrating the end of the All Stars series in sunny South Africa, he shared that he was in chilly London.
The TV personality took to Instagram Stories and posted a picture of himself getting the tube.
In his usual comedic style, he wrote over the picture: “Happy Love Island final from Sunny South Africa.”
The couple, who found love in the South African villa, went from strength to strength but looked completely stunned as their names were called, sharing a celebratory hug as fireworks erupted behind them.
Speaking to Maya before they were crowned, Casey gushed over Gabby and insisted he had already won.
He told Maya after finding out they were in the final two: “I absolutely adore her (Gabby).
“She has just blown me off my socks since I got here.
“As soon as that first conversation I had with her, it was game over for me.”
ITVGabby and Casey were the underdogs in tonight’s final[/caption]
RexGabby and Casey scooped the £50,000 prize[/caption]
CHAOTIC FINAL
In a season packed with drama, bombshells, and second chances, the ITV2 final was just as chaotic.
A dozen axed stars returned to South Africa to take part in the live final and were given the power to boot one couple from the villa the night before.
Last night the islanders could be seen and heard taking shots at each other from across the live studio.
It was a chaotic Love Island finalEroteme
Runners-up Grace and Luca were at the centre of some it, with their fellow Islanders accusing them of faking their romance to win the show.
Grace was accused of fakery again by another axed Islander, Olivia Hawkins.
They allegedly stated the Manchester model had a game plan before entering the villa – and host Maya didn’t shy away from the conversation.
Grace Jackson and Luca Bish faced drama in the finalErotemeOlivia Hawkins stirred up drama again with finalist GraceEroteme
Before bringing it up with the warring pair, Maya told viewers: “It’s only our second year of All Stars and what a series it has been … it’s ended in complete chaos, just how we like it.”
The presenter said to Olivia: “Absolute scenes when you came into the villa the other day.
“The question we all want to know, do you have the receipts?”
The axed Islander doubled down on her comments and insisted she “had the receipts.”
Olivia replied: “I’ve seen them, I’ve said what I’ve said. You know me, I’m very straight talking. I’m straight to the point. I honestly wish them the best.”
Grace retorted “I’m straight talking” adding “there were no receipts” and said she looked forward to “apparently seeing them”.
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Man suffers serious ‘crush injuries’ after section of wall collapses while carrying out works
A MAN has been seriously injured after suffering what’s believed to be crush injuries after part of a structure fell on him.
The incident occurred at the town of Kilfinane in Co Limerick this morning at around 10am.
It is understood the man was carrying out works on a building in the town when part of a wall may have collapsed on him.
A major emergency services response swing into action including an air ambulance, paramedics, Gardai and firefighters.
The man’s condition is believed to be serious but not life-threatening.
It’s unclear if it was a workplace related incident.
The Health and Safety Authority, which investigates workplace related injuries, has been contacted for comment.
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AlamyEmergency services rushed to the scene[/caption]
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on ‘It’s so annoying’ WhatsApp users fume as ‘stupid’ new feature rolls out – but there’s a way to instantly remove it
WHATSAPP users have bashed a new addition to their home screens, as Meta’s AI chatbot continues to roll out to devices.
Meta AI, an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that answers questions, and even hooks users up with customer support, has been integrating into WhatsApp since last year.
Reddit / 3mwo2The feature brings a new floating button[/caption]
Reddit / PANcakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMeta AI has also been added to the search bar[/caption]
The feature, which comes in the form of a floating Meta AI button and new search bar capabilities, has been rolling out to devices in phases.
But those on the receiving end of the new ‘upgrade’ say they don’t want it.
“Why the hell do we need an AI in a chat app,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“It is so annoying, even when I search chat it shows stupid recommendation on top.”
Another added: “The search part is the most annoying, am just trying to search someones name not ask GPT to make a picture.”
While a third wrote: “I do not want or need AI in WhatsApp. The AI suggestions in the search tab ruins the search feature and adds irrelevant stuff.”
Fortunately, you can switch it off.
Open Settings > Look for the Chats option > Navigate to Show Meta AI button > turn the toggle off.
Once you toggle off the Meta AI button, it will immediately disappear from your WhatsApp home screen.
If this button sounds unfamiliar, then it probably hasn’t rolled out to you yet.
According to WhatsApp, the feature is only available in limited countries.
And even if it is available to your region, you might not have access to it yet even if others in your country do.
Best WhatsApp tips and hacks
Wondering how to get the most out of WhatsApp? Read on to find out about all the hidden features, tips and hacks for the social media platform...
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Shameless killer Allen Morgan duped cops with ‘cast iron’ alibi for 40 years… while celebrating wife’s murder with lover
FOR 42 years, the vicious murder of mum-of-two Carol Morgan remained a chilling mystery.
On August 13, 1981, while her children were watching a film at the local cinema, Carol, 37, was bludgeoned to death in the storeroom of her corner shop in Linslade, Bedfordshire.
PAFor 42 years, Allen Morgan roamed freely after arranging the brutal murder of his wife[/caption]
Fairley & SimmonsCarol Morgan was savagely bludgeoned at the couple’s corner shop in 1981[/caption]
Hyde News & PicturesMorgan and his new wife Margaret Spooner were charged with conspiracy to murder[/caption]
Her skull was shattered by 10 to 15 blows in an attack so savage that detectives would later describe it as “overkill.”
For four decades the mystery of her brutal murder remained unsolved, haunting the quiet community and baffling cops.
Now a new ITV documentary, The Real Unforgotten, follows investigators as they reopen the case and work to find out the truth behind Carol’s murder.
Detective Constable Denise Brown, who reviewed the shocking images of Carol’s body, described the gruesome scene in the documentary.
She said: “You can see huge lacerations. You can see the skull, and the second one shows the tissue that’s exposed as a result of the attack.
“What you don’t see is how Carol had a load of hair in her hand from where she had obviously put her hand to her head to protect her head.”
The brutality of the murder was undeniable. Carol’s finger was slashed in a defensive wound, her cheek was grotesquely damaged, and her skull was exposed.
While cops hunted an opportunist robber, the real mastermind stood right before detectives – her ‘grieving’ husband, Allen Morgan.
Morgan had a cast iron alibi, claiming he discovered his wife’s bloodied body after returning from the cinema with their children.
He immediately raised the alarm, reporting that £500 in cash and £120 worth of cigarettes were missing from the shop.
Bedfordshire Police/PA WireMorgan played the role of a grieving widower and appealed for information on the killer[/caption]
SuppliedHe told cops he found his wife in the storeroom of their corner shop[/caption]
He played the role of the devastated husband, pleading with the killer’s friends and family to stop shielding them.
“Well, if he’s done it once, he’s going to do it again, and it was terrible,” he said in a TV interview at the time.
“You’ve got no idea what it was like when I walked in. No idea at all what she looked like. I just hope they don’t shield him too long or they don’t shield him at all.”
‘Worst shock’
PAPolice initially believed Carol’s murder was a result of a robbery[/caption]
PAAppeals were launched for a man with “piggy nostrils”[/caption]
ITVDetectives Carl Foster and Denise Woods worked on the case when it was reopened[/caption]
Police initially believed the motive was robbery.
They focused their investigation on a man seen leaving the shop around 7pm, described as having “piggy-style nostrils.”
A composite image of the suspect was circulated widely and detectives pursued leads related to a dark green estate car seen nearby.
They questioned thousands of people and examined over 30,000 vehicles. But despite their efforts, the mysterious man and the car were never found.
Meanwhile, Carol’s family struggled to understand why someone would murder such a kind and gentle woman.
Her niece, Julie Walsh, said in the film: “Hearing about my auntie’s murder was the worst shock in the world. Everything just stops, and you think, ‘well, that can’t have happened.’
“Why would someone murder a defenceless, innocent woman working in her shop? It’s never made any sense to me.
“Why do something so grotesque… so brutal to anyone for a small reward as it seems?”
With the police at the time laser-focused on catching the man in the composite, other leads were disregarded.
Senior investigator Carl Foster, who opened the case in 2018 and eventually successfully cracked it says in the documentary: “This male was hugely significant to the original investigation because he was the main line of inquiry that was pursued.
“But in pursuing that, they were absolutely focused on catching the murderer at the expense of other lines of inquiry or other hypotheses.”
The store room of the store where Carol was murderedBedfordshire PoliceBedfordshire PoliceThe store was owned by Carol and Allen Morgan[/caption]
Secret lover
While police chased the wrong lead, Allen Morgan continued to play the grieving widower. But behind closed doors, he was hiding a dark secret.
He was having a passionate affair with Margaret Spooner, a married woman who was found in his bed the morning after Carol’s murder.
As detectives would later discover, Morgan and Margaret had been lovers for months, meeting every night in the days leading up to the murder.
News Group Newspapers LtdMorgan on holiday with Margaret shortly after Carol’s death[/caption]
News Group Newspapers LtdFor years, he protested his innocence amid pleas to catch the killer[/caption]
Soon after the horrific discovery, Margaret’s friend, Sheila Forrest, remembered Morgan whispering to Margaret: “It won’t be long now, darling… I’m sorry I’ve had to tell them all about us.”
In a witness statement in 1981, she told cops: “His grief seemed unreal… I was feeling physically sick and frightened at Morgan’s words to Margaret.”
Margaret’s husband came forward to give police a witness statement, telling them: “I do anticipate that now that Mrs Morgan has died, my wife and Allen will live together.”
That’s exactly what happened – six weeks after Carol’s death, Margaret moved into the family home, living with Morgan and Carol’s children.
Rumours swirled in the community, forcing Morgan to sell the shop and move away. He later admitted: “There are quite a few other people who won’t shop here because they are afraid to be caught up in the gossip.”
But it wasn’t just the affair that raised eyebrows. Investigators discovered the couple’s finances were in ruins, with the shop they co-owned failing and cheques bouncing.
Chillingly, there was also an insurance policy that would pay out upon Carol’s death.
Lies and inconsistencies
ITVThe investigators sieved through countless documents in a bid to solve the case[/caption]
MirrorpixMorgan and Margaret were arrested for the crime in 2019[/caption]
When Carl took charge of the case, he quickly realised the original investigation had been flawed and forensic evidence had been destroyed.
Cracking the case was going to be a daunting task.
Carl and his team revisited over 500 witness statements and 6,000 documents.
Armed with ghastly pictures from the scene, Carl and his team worked tirelessly with forensic experts and medical teams to get a better sense of how and why Carol was killed.
Investigators came to the conclusion that they had to look more closely at Morgan.
A few months after Carol’s death, Morgan granted an interview in the media where he claimed that his marriage was “as good as over”.
He also said he was not going to “mourn forever” and showed no remorse for moving on too soon with Margaret.
Hitting back in the film, Carl says: “If you cared one jot about Carol, then surely any normal human being under those circumstances would not be flaunting their life in that way and disrespecting Carol’s memory quite as openly as Allen seemed to.”
In November 2019, 38 years after Carol’s murder, Carl and his team arrested Allen, then aged 69 and Margaret, 70 at the time.
It was the first time that an arrest had ever been made in the puzzling case.
Police launched another appeal for information and went around speaking to neighbours again, in the hopes of gathering new information.
During questioning, police noted several inconsistencies and lies in the pair’s accounts of what happened.
One of the most significant was when he told police that there was no machete in his shop.
From interviews, police had already established that there was and several people had seen Morgan using one.
Carl believes that was the item that was used to murder Carol. Allen also lied about his financial situation with Carol, giving police more reason to suspect that he was involved in her murder.
During questioning, it was revealed that Allen had a previous conviction for insurance fraud.
Before Carol, he was previously in a volatile marriage with a woman called Sandra, who he had two kids with.
He became violent towards her and even punched her in the stomach when she told him she was pregnant, which may have contributed to the loss of one of their twins.
Sandra gave a statement in 1981 detailing a history of brutal domestic violence. His own kids also revealed disturbing details of brutal punishments and a history of physical abuse.
After the initial interviews, the couple were released on bail pending further investigations as police did not have enough evidence to charge them.
Bombshell evidence
Hyde News & PicturesThe pair were arrested by cops on multiple times before a breakthrough witness[/caption]
BBCJane Bunting’s testimony was the smoking gun cops needed[/caption]
Just as the investigation stalled and frustration began to set in, a bombshell witness came forward.
In 1981, Jane Bunting was a wayward child who had been expelled from, school. Margaret was then assigned as her tutor.
After developing a close relationship, Jane was invited to a pub to meet up with Margaret and Morgan three months before the murder.
During their conversation, the couple discussed various ways Carol could die, including in a car accident.
The conversation left Jane stunned but Margaret tried to assure her it was just a joke.
After Carol was killed, Margaret warned the 17-year-old not to tell anyone about the discussion at the pub. Jane’s incredible testimony was the smoking gun detectives desperately needed.
Armed with this, they once again arrested Morgan and Margaret and brought them into the Kempston Police Station for questioning.
During the interrogations, they answered “no comment” to every question.
Although the Crown Prosecution Service felt they had a significant amount of evidence on the couple, they wanted to make sure they could prove their guilt without a reasonable doubt.
The couple was released for a second time. During their trips to and from the station, cops secretly recorded their conversations, including one instance when Morgan told Margaret: “I don’t want to say anything cos they might have…” – stopping when he realised he might incriminate himself.
Eventually, the decision was made to charge the pair for hiring a hitman to murder Carol.
Shan Saunders, from the CPS, whose decision it was to charge the pair said in the documentary: “If you take out the robbery hypothesis and look at it, who else had a motive to kill her?”
In April 2024, the couple’s trial began at the Luton Crown Court. Dean Morgan, Carol’s son, bravely gave testimony while Jane Bunting’s evidence revealed the cold-hearted plot to kill Carol.
In June 2024, the jury reached a decision and found Morgan guilty of conspiracy to murder. However, Margaret was acquitted of the charge.
On 29th July, Allen was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Spencer told Morgan he was a “wicked” person.
But while Allen Morgan plotted the murder, the accomplice who carried out the horrific attack has never been found.
The Real Unforgotten airs on 18th February at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Fairley & SimmonsMorgan was sentenced to life in prison for the crime in 2024[/caption]
PAMargaret, however, was acquitted of the same charge[/caption]
4 days agoworld NewsComments Off on ‘If only I could get that lucky’ – Tommy Fleetwood hits incredible hole-in-one on a par 4… but it doesn’t count
TOMMY FLEETWOOD hit an incredible hole-in-one on a par four but was left wondering if it counted.
The current world No.10 is competing in the TMRW Golf League that has been set up by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
X / TommyFleetwood1Tommy Fleetwood was practising at the TMRW Golf League[/caption]
X / TommyFleetwood1He hit an incredible hole-in-one on the simulator[/caption]
X / TommyFleetwood1However, it did not count as it happened in practice[/caption]
Fleetwood, 34, was hit a brilliant shot on the driving simulator that saw the ball take a fortunate bounce off computer-generated rocks.
The ball landed on the green on the par four and miraculously rolled into the hole.
Fleetwood celebrated the shot and took to social media to ask about its legitimacy.
He wrote: “Add this to the hole-in-one debate.
“Golf simulator ace during practice. Does this count?”
Unfortunately for the Southport ace, it would not count as it only came during the warm-up and practice.
Fans were stunned by the shot as they debated the effort on social media.
One posted: “If only I could get that lucky of a bounce sim or no sim lol. Great shot!.”