A KILLER carer who murdered Margaret Fleming is ‘bedbound’ but fit to face a cash claw-back action, the High Court has heard.

Lawyers for Edward Cairney, 79, were concerned that he wouldn’t be able to participate or understand why prosecutors were seeking to seize £182,000 from him under proceeds of crime legislation.

However, judge Lord Summers yesterday heard how a psychiatrist had examined Cairney and concluded that he was fit to face the action.

Cairney and accomplice Avril Jones, 61, are both currently serving life sentences for murdering Margaret, 19, some time between December 1999 and January 2000 at their ramshackle waterfront cottage in Inverkip.

Jones continued to claim £182k in benefits meant for Margaret until it finally emerged that she was missing in October 2016.

Her body has never been found.

At a court hearing last December, defence advocate Mark Moir told judge Lord Burns that he was finding it very difficult to obtain instructions from Cairney, saying he 'had deteriorated', was in a wheelchair and had 'multiple other health problems'.

On Monday, Mr Moir told the High Court in Edinburgh that Cairney now refuses to leave his cell.

However, a psychiatrist who had seen the killer concluded that although he has 'marked memory problems', Cairney still had good recall of the court case.

The medic also concluded that the killer is fit and able to give his lawyers instructions.

Mr Moir asked for time in order to consult with him while Jones' advocate Victoria Dow said her client wanted to bring the case to an end.

Ms Dow added: “She has been keen to settle this matter for some time now.”

Lord Summers has continued the case for three weeks.