ALMOST a year to the day after an elderly couple with strong links to Fermanagh were stabbed to death in their Portadown home, a 41-year old man appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday) where he admitted killing them.

Thomas Scott McEntee - who is originally from Moorfield Court in Kilkeel but with a current address at the secure Shannon Unit in Knockbracken Healthcare Clinic in south Belfast - was originally charged with murdering Michael and Marjorie Cawdery last May.

Yesterday, he denied murdering the couple - but admitted to their manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The couple, who were both 83, died in their Upper Ramone Park home in Portadown on May 26 last year.

Michael and Marjorie had lived with their three children in Lisbellaw for more than 20 years before moving to Portadown.

After McEntee admitted to the double manslaughter, the couple's son-in-law Charles Little welcomed the plea and said "it has taken a lot of pressure off the family."

Following McEntee's admissions of guilt, his barrister asked that pre-sentence reports be compiled, in addition to the psychiatric reports that have already been prepared.

Also ordered were Victim Impact Reports, which will set out the affect the violent incident has had on Mr. and Mrs. Cawdery's loved ones.

Noting this will be a "difficult sentencing exercise", Mr Justice Colton said he would hear the plea on Friday, June 22, before he returned McEntee to the Shannon Clinic.