A MAN has been indicted for the murder of a teenage girl more than 27 years ago.

Elaine Doyle, 16, was killed on her way home from a disco in Greenock, Inverclyde, on June 1, 1986.

Her body was found the next day in a lane off Ardgowan Street, less than 50 yards from her home.

John Docherty, from the town, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court charged with Elaine's murder last year.

The 49-year-old made no plea or declaration during the hearing.

The case was passed to the Crown Office and the Cold Case Review Unit.

It is the first case to go to court following an investigation by the cold case unit, which was set up in 2011, the Crown Office said.

Docherty is due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow next month.

Elaine was last seen alive by two friends in Hamilton Way, after she left the disco in the town's Laird Street.

Strathclyde Police launched a fresh appeal over her death in 2011 and Docherty was arrested in March last year.

In a tragic twist, Elaine's nephew Jack Doyle died, aged 17, on January 3 2012, after he was stabbed.

Steven McIntyre was given a life sentence in October that year for the murder.

He is serving 15 years for stabbing Jack to death in Antigua Street, Greenock.

Jack, who lived at Rose Street in Greenock, bled to death on a doorstep from the knife wound.

Co-accused Kevin McIntyre, 28, who had the murder charge against him dropped when he admitted a lesser charge of repeatedly slashing Jack on the face, was jailed for five years and six months for the attack.

Elaine's father, also called Jack Doyle, died three days after his grandson Jack's death.

Jack Snr, 69, passed away in Greenock's Ardgowan Hospice.

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk