Docherty, 50, was indicted for the murder of sixteen year-old Elaine in January this year.

This was the first indictment to be served for an unresolved homicide following an investigation led by the Crown Office Cold Case Unit (CCU) working with Police Scotland.

The Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC, who was a prosecutor in the Greenock Procurator Fiscal office at that time of Elaine’s death, remembered the case and its impact on the local community.

He was pro-active in ensuring that the case was regularly reviewed and launched the Cold Case Unit on the 25th anniversary of the murder, where he met Elaine’s father Jack, who has since sadly passed away, and her brother John.

The Lord Advocate said: “Today’s sentence ends a long search for justice for the Doyle family.

"Elaine Doyle was 16 at the time of her death.

"It deeply touched the people of Inverclyde and beyond who never let her memory fade.

"The support of the public to law enforcement was unwavering and has played a large part in bringing Elaine’s murderer to justice.

"The sterling work of the police officers and prosecutors who worked on the case is reflected in the verdict. Elaine can now rest in peace.” * FOR A FULL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LORD ADVOCATE FRANK MULHOLLAND, SEE TOMORROW'S GREENOCK TELEGRAPH.