XMAS CARDS CONTAIN MURDER MESSAGE

Dec 20 2007

THE nephew of murdered pensioner Margaret Irvine this week reacted with disgust to a Christmas card campaign launched by those seeking the release of the two men convicted of her killing.

The Standard reported last week that the Free the Killie 2 group has sent cards to pubs and businesses in Galston in the hope of uncovering evidence which could help their case.

The cards, of which around 70 have been sent out, ostensibly thank “the kind people from Galston” for coming forward with information and names to help the appeal launched by convicted murderers Brendan Dixon and Patrick Docherty.

Campaigners admit, however, that the cards are partly intended to provoke a reaction from local people.

And they have provoked an angry reaction from Charles Keers, Mrs Irvine’s nephew and her next-door neighbour at the time of her death in September 2003.

“I think it’s pretty disgusting that they are using Christmas cards like this,” he said.

And he singled out one of the leading campaigners — Dixon’s brother-in-law Kevin Donald — for particular attention, pointing out that his evidence during the trial had been criticised by High Court judge Lord Hardie.

Mr Keers said: “Why would innocent people need an alibi?”

Mr Keers — who has previously said that he is “100 per cent certain” about the guilt of Docherty and Dixon — also slammed the campaigners for their suggestion that some prosecution witnesses had lied in court.

“These people came up and told the

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