A man facing double murder charges has admitted to killing an elderly couple in their home in May last year.
Thomas McEntee, 41, originally from Moorfield Court in Kilkeel but with a current address at the secure Shannon Unit in Knockbracken Healthcare Clinic in Belfast, denied murdering Michael and Marjorie Cawdrey but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The couple, who were both 83, died in their home in Upper Ramone Park, Portadown on May 26.
Today, at Craigavon Crown Court – almost a year to the day – McEntee admitted to the double manslaughter, which was accepted by the prosecution.
As well as the manslaughter charges, McEntee faces a number of others namely breaking into Mr and Mrs Cawdrey’s home with a knife and stealing a bank card and car keys, indecently exposing himself, stealing their Renault Kangoo and causing damage to it, and driving dangerously.
In addition he admitted two counts of theft on the same date, and also entered a guilty plea to breaking into a house at Derrybeg Lane in Newry and stealing a key on May 25, 2017.
McEntee is due back in court on Friday June 22. A pre-sentence report and victim impact statements have been ordered.
