Crossboyne has fond memories of ‘lovely couple’ murdered in Armagh

TRAGIC DEATHS The late Michael and Marjorie Cawdery.

Michael Commins

A couple who were brutally murdered in their home in Portadown, Co Armagh, three weeks ago lived for a few years in Crossboyne, Claremorris.
Michael and Marjorie Cawdery, both aged 83, were subjected to a savage knife attack in what is believed to be a random act of violence. The deaths came after a 40-year-old man fled a mental health unit at the nearby Craigavon Area Hospital. He was subsequently arrested in relation to the incident.
Michael Cawdery was a retired veterinary researcher with a renowned and distinguished career in his profession. A native of Lisbellew in Co Fermanagh, he was educated in Nairobi, at Portora Royal School (Enniskillen) and at Trinity College Dublin.
The family moved to Crossboyne in the late 1960s and lived in the house where the Pilbrow family currently reside.
Local resident, Eamon Maloney, remembers the Cawdery family during their time in the village. “Michael was employed at the time by the Department of Agriculture. As far as I can recall he was assigned to the Creagh Research Institute at Ballinrobe at the time.
“They had a family of three, Shirley, Graham and Wendy, and they attended the local school in Crossboyne. We were neighbours and would be back and over to them on a regular basis. They left Crossboyne in the 1970s when Michael probably took up a new assignment somewhere else.
“We could not believe it when we heard the terrible news from Armagh that this lovely couple had met such a tragic end. They were an outstanding family and all who remember them around Crossboyne are deeply saddened by this awful tragedy,” says Eamon.

Fond memories
Bernie Reapy, who was in Crossboyne NS at the time, has fond memories of the Cawdery family. “Marjorie was a lovely lady and always had such a welcome for us when we went down to play with her young family. They had a Morris Minor car and they would bring us up to school in it on wet mornings. That was some treat for children back in those days.
“Mike and Marjorie were really gentle people and we all missed them and their family after they left Crossboyne.”
Michael and Marjorie were directors of veterinary firm, Cawel Ltd, up until 2011. He was immensely regarded in his chosen field of expertise and published numerous research articles in a wide range of academic journals.
A family statement issued in the aftermath of the tragedy read: “The awful and incomprehensible events have deprived our family of two wonderful people Michael and Marjorie who were our father, mother, brother, sister and grandparents.
“We thank the police for their prompt response and professional actions. We also thank everyone who has expressed sympathy in whatever way and offered help. Finally, we ask for respect and privacy in the coming days as the family try to come to terms with their loss.”
Drumcree Parish Church was packed to overflowing for the Funeral Service on Thursday, June 8, at 2pm and this was followed by private committal.