Elaine Doyle: World Cup goal jogs witness’ memory

A LAST-GASP World Cup goal helped a neighbour of Elaine Doyle remember where he was on the night she was murdered.
Teenager Elaine Doyle was murdered in 1986. Picture: ContributedTeenager Elaine Doyle was murdered in 1986. Picture: Contributed
Teenager Elaine Doyle was murdered in 1986. Picture: Contributed

Switzerland-based IT and banking consultant Brendan McGoogan flew back to Scotland to recall the time when he was a student at the then Paisley College of Technology - and living directly opposite the teenager’s Greenock home.

Mr McGoogan, 47, neither saw nor heard anything suspicious about the time Elaine should have arrived back in Ardgowan Street after a Sunday night disco.

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He had been out that evening at a church social club and at a night-club in Greenock town centre before a friend drove him home.

To help fix the time Mr McGoogan reached Ardgowan Street, defence QC Donald Findlay produced FIFA statistics from the opening stages of the Mexico World Cup.

A Canada v France match that night was goalless until French striker Jean-Pierre Papin scored the winning goal in the 79th minute.

Mr McGoogan said he had been home in time to catch the last 15 minutes of the game and saw the goal. He agreed it must have been shown on TV about 12.34am on June 2.

He went to bed to be woken in the morning by police officers begining door to door inquiries following the discovery of Elaine’s body.

Advocate depute John Scullion, prosecuting, asked Mr McGoogan if he had seen anyone in the area. “No,” he replied.

He told the trial he had not heard anything and had seen no shadows, no vehicle tail lights, and nothing suspicious.

The trial, now entering its fifth week, continues on Monday.

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