Youth leader shocked to be linked to Doyle murder

A CHURCH youth leader yesterday reacted with horror to the suggestion he might have been involved in the killing of Elaine Doyle.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that two incidents involving young women had put retired plumber Alan Gray’s name on a list of suspects.

Mr Gray, 67, told how he had helped lead a youth camping trip in Anstruther, Fife, on the weekend Elaine was murdered.

He returned to his Greenock home on the evening of Sunday June 1 1986, the day before 16-year-old Elaine was found dead just yards from her Ardgowan Street home.

The court heard that just two weeks later Mr Gray was asked about an incident involving a young girl, which led to him appearing in his local sheriff court.

A statement Mr Gray made under caution was read to the jury: “I saw this girl going by on her bike and I realised I was taking an erection,” it said.

Mr Gray said although he had admitted an offence when he appeared in court he wished now that he had challenged it as he had a medical condition which caused itching at the time.

Mr Gray, at the time a member of Ardgowan Square evangelical church, was also confronted with a police statement about another incident in August 1986, while he was driving.

“I saw a very attractive woman walking towards the town,” the statement read. Mr Gray, according to the statement, turned in a goods yard and went back to have another look.

He told the trial he thought it might have been his wife’s cousin and he wanted to offer her a lift.

But, defence QC Donald Findlay challenged: “You go, basically, out of your way to ogle her and that is what you did, isn’t it?” Mr Gray hesitated, then agreed.

Murder accused John Docherty, 49, has lodged a special defence of incrimination and his defence team have put forward a list of 41 possible suspects, arguing that one of those names might be the real killer.

Docher ty, now of Dunoon, claims that at the time he is alleged to have stripped and strangled Elaine Doyle, 16, he was with his parents — who are no longer alive — at their home in Anne Street.