Murder accused Eddie Cairney claimed that missing Margaret Fleming was a 'spy'

The statements emerged as journalist Russell Findlay yesterday gave evidence at the trial of Cairney, 77, and co-accused Avril Jones, 59, at the High Court in Glasgow.

The pair deny murdering Margaret at their Seacroft home in Inverkip between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.

Jury members heard extracts from an interview which Mr Findlay conducted with Cairney and Jones on October 4, 2017, in which Cairney also claimed that Margaret, who had learning difficulties, was a gangmaster who was buying and selling drugs.

On the tape Cairney also said that Margaret had a number of aliases and was 'a frustrated spy.'

The accused went on to allege that there was a Masonic conspiracy against him conducted by the police and Inverclyde Council.

Mr Findlay was asked by prosecutor Iain McSporran QC why he had obtained an interview with the pair and was told: “I had been aware of extensive media coverage about a missing woman.

"It was quite an intriguing and unusual case.

"Then in 2017 I heard rumours that she was alive and well.”

The journalist said that initially in September 2017 he had gone to Seacroft and spoken briefly to Jones who told him 'nothing untoward had happened'.

He added that Cairney and Jones subsequently agreed to meet with him and he recorded the interview.

On the tape Cairney, referring to Margaret, states: “In Wisbech in Cambridgeshire I introduced her to a gangmaster.

"She became what is known down there as a gangmaster."

Cairney claimed that Margaret had travelled in Cambridgeshire, Hereford and Kent and and all over Europe, adding: “She found out she could bring guys from Poland over here and pay them washers.”

He then wondered how she had managed to do all this without a passport.

At a later stage in the interview Cairney stated: “She's not taking drugs, but buying and selling them.”

The jury heard how Cairney claimed that Margaret used a number of surnames including Lee, Crawford, Coe, Jones and Hamilton, as well as Fleming.

Cairney said: “She had a number of different names.

"She is a frustrated spy.”

He also said Margaret was not missing, and added: “She's avoiding us.

"She's not missing.

"I know what she's up to.

"I'm horrified at what I've created.”

Defence QC Thomas Ross, representing Cairney, asked Mr Findlay: “Neither Eddie Cairney nor Avril Jones had been charged by the time you spoke to them.”

He replied: “I think there were suspicions there was a body.”

Margaret, who would now be 38, has allegedly not been seen for more than 19 years.

After her father died in October 1995, her mother could not cope and Cairney and Jones became her carers.

A major police investigation was sparked in October 2016 after a benefits claim submitted by Jones on Margaret's behalf raised concerns about her well-being.

The court heard that as part of the missing person's investigation Cairney and Jones had been put out of their house while police dug up their garden, but by the time of the interview with Mr Findlay they had returned there.

Mr Ross asked the witness: “Had you ever come across a situation where two citizens were put out of their house for months while police were conducting a search/.”

He replied: “I don't remember any.”

Defence QC Ian Duguid, representing Jones, said: “What you are describing is an interview with Mr Cairney with a few contributions from Avril Jones.”

Mr Findlay replied: “Yes.”

Cairney and Jones also deny defrauding £182,000 in benefits and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by claiming Margaret was alive.

The trial before judge Lord Matthews continues.