Man to face trial over pensioner’s murder

A TRIAL date has been set for a Co Down man charged with stabbing to death an elderly couple in their home last year.

Thomas Scott McEntee (41), appeared yesterday at Craigavon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, for an arraignment hearing on a total of nine charges.

McEntee, formerly of Moorfield Court in Kilkeel but now with an address at the secure Shannon Unit in Knockbracken Healthcare Clinic in Belfast, was flanked in the dock by two psychiatric nurses for his hearing.

He pleaded not guilty to murdering Michael and Majorie Cawdrey (right) at their Upper Ramone Park home in Portadown. The couple, both aged 83, were found stabbed to death on May 26, 2017.

McEntee also denied two counts of theft on the same date, stealing a bottle of Oyster Bay red wine valued at £8.99, a torch, a compass, a map and a pair of sunglasses.

He further pleaded not guilty to burgling a house on May 25, 2017, at Derrybeg Lane in Newry and stealing a key. McEntee also denied offences of indecent exposure and burgling the home of Mr and Mrs Cawdrey with a knife, stealing a Northern Bank cheque book and a set of car keys to their Renault Kangoo, driving off in the van and damaging it.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving the Renault vehicle dangerously on roads including Upper Ramone Park and Killicomaine Road, Portadown on May 26. Defence counsel Ciaran Mallon QC told the court that McEntee had been assessed by a consultant psychiatrist at Knockbracken Healthcare Clinic who said there was “no issue around the defendant’s fitness to plead’’.

He said that the defence had retained the services of a second consultant psychiatrist to examine McEntee about his “mental capacity at the time’’ of the offences.

But judge Mr Justice Colton said he “didn’t see the necessity’’ in getting a second report as there was no issue around McEntee’s fitness to plead.

The judge set the trial date for Monday, June 18, and it is expected to last up to two weeks.