Family dispute denied missing Margaret Fleming’s carer a lottery windfall

A CARER involved in a huge missing person hunt was previously at the centre of a dispute over a lottery win.

Avril Jones’ garden is being dug up by police looking for vulnerable Margaret Fleming, who lived with Avril and partner Eddie Cairney.

Avril, 56, and Eddie, 75, reported Margaret missing hours after apparently being visited by benefits staff.

The officials, who were accompanied on their visit by police, wanted to speak to Margaret about an application made in her name for extra money.

Now a well-placed source has revealed that Avril was involved in a rift over a £400,000 lottery win which her mum and dad decided not to share with her.

Avril’s parents, Florence and Walter Jones, won the cash from the People’s Postcode Lottery in 2011.

At the time, beaming Walter, who also won a BMW 1 Series, said: “I will never have to worry about a bill again.

“It’s magic, my head is just spinning.

“To win £400,000 is incredible, and to top it off with a car is unbelievable.”

But the windfall wasn’t shared with Avril as a result of a family dispute, a Sunday Post source has revealed.

“Avril was quite disappointed that her parents decided not to share the winnings with her,” said the source, who knows both Avril and her mother and father.

“I’ve been told about it by Avril and I’ve also heard it from her mum.

“The relationship between mother and daughter has been very strained, to say the least.

“I don’t know much about Avril’s financial circumstances but most people whose folks had won that sort of money would be assuming they might get some help.”

Margaret, 36, who has learning difficulties, lived with Avril and Eddie at their “rubbish-filled” home in Inverkip which is now being painstakingly examined by the police.

When officials from the Department of Work and Pensions called six weeks ago about the benefits claim, it is claimed they were told Margaret was “out”.

Avril and Eddie reported her “missing” later that day.

Police have so far found no one who has seen Margaret alive since 1999, other than Avril and Eddie.

Visitors to the house say they never saw Margaret there.

Yesterday marked 17 years to the day since the last independent sighting of Margaret at a Christmas family gathering.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone said: “A priority for the inquiry team is to establish Margaret’s movements and lifestyle between 1999 and when she was reported missing on Friday, October 28, by her carers.

“We have had an encouraging response to our previous appeals.

“I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to come forward with information. If Margaret is reading this, I would ask her to get in touch with police.

“She is not is any trouble, we just want to ensure she is safe and well.”

It’s believed Margaret lived with her father Frank in Port Glasgow, until his death in October 1995.

After a period of living with her grandparents and mother, she moved in with her carers in 1997 in Inverkip and has been estranged from her mother since then.

It’s also thought Margaret attended James Watt College in Greenock from 1996 to 1998.

Last night, Avril’s dad Walter said: “Everything I have to say I’ve said to the police already.”