By Mickey Ferry

A local woman has dispelled rumours that convicted rapist Eamon Foley has been residing in her house in the Innisfree Gardens area of Strabane.

Andrea Kelly (27), who moved back to Strabane just four months ago after living for a spell in Derry, said she was "shocked" at the rumours circulating that she was giving shelter to "an unfortunate connection" with her family.

An anonymous caller contacted the Chronicle on Monday saying that Foley, who served eight years of a 16-year sentence for the horrific rape of 96-year-old pensioner Mary Anne McLaughlin in Castlederg in 1999, was living in the Innisfree Gardens area. The caller said her concerns were heightened by the nightly police presence around the house. She believed that Foley may have been living in or visiting the house for the last three weeks.

The rumours gathered momentum to such a point that the fears were reiterated by many residents. Sinn Féin was also contacted and had gone as far as contacting MASRAM and the Executive.

In a bid to find out exactly who was staying in the house, and to clarify if it was Foley, the Chronicle called with the tenant and we can now confirm that it is not Eamon Foley who is staying at the house but a 24-year-old Derry man.

It is understood that the police have absolutely no concerns regarding the whereabouts of Foley, or any doubt that he is not residing at his regular address. They continue to make checks at his address.

Visibly shocked by the extent at which the rumour mill had circulated, Andrea Kelly instantly dismissed the rumours and made it abundantly clear that she and the rest of her family no longer had anything to do with Eamon Foley.

She was joined by the young male from Derry, who is staying in the house, as bail conditions prohibit him from living in the city.

The Derry man, who did not wish to be named, is currently involved in a physical assault case. The police presence at the house was in relation to the Derry man and his case, which is still pending.

Ms Kelly was not aware of the full extent of the rumours until we visited her yesterday.

"My mum heard something and got in touch with me. So really I just heard about it last night. It's ridiculous to think that anyone in my family would have anything to do with Foley. We really do not need rumours like this spreading around, especially after all the family has been put through because of the case.

"My aunt was married to him. But she has nothing to do with him either and has made a new life for herself elsewhere."

When asked if the rumours could have been instigated by a strange face coming in and out of the house, Ms Kelly agreed that some people may well have got the wrong end of the stick, despite the considerable age gap between her friend from Derry and Eamon Foley.

"I only moved back to Strabane four months ago," she said. "My friend cannot go back to his own place in Derry. Bail restrictions prohibit it because it's too close to where another other man linked to his case currently resides. When a friend asks for help, you help him out."

Ms Kelly then made it clear that under no circumstances would she ever allow Eamon Foley into the house.

"Even when he was married to my aunt, I never liked the man. After what he has done, why would I have him in this house? I keep to myself.

"Nobody is ever in this house. I'm totally shocked that this unfortunate connection to my family has raised its ugly head again. I can assure people that Eamon Foley would never ever be welcome here!"

After speaking to Ms Kelly, the Chronicle met with a number of residents from the Innisfree Gardens area.

There was a general sense of relief that the convicted rapist was not living among them.

One resident said, "It's good to be assured that someone like Eamon Foley isn't living around here. Our concern would be for the children of the area during the summer holidays."

And with that, children in the park were allowed out to play after many days of being kept in because of the fear of parents that Foley was lurking nearby.

"I feel a bit safer now letting the kids out to play," said the resident.