Man handed minimum of 24 years in jail for murder

A man convicted of the murder of Damien Heagney has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in jail.

Mr Heagney, from Cookstown in County Tyrone, was last seen alive at the end of December 2021.

The 45-year-old’s partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir in August 2022, a month after he was reported missing.

In April, following a three-week trial, Stephen McCourt, 41, from Riverview in Augher was found guilty of murdering Mr Heagney, as well as dismembering and disposing of his body.

At a tariff hearing at Belfast Crown Court, judge Mr Justice Stephen Fowler said he was satisfied to the required standard that Mr Heagney’s death was the result of a “vicious attack with a knife, including numerous blows to the head”.

He described the killing as a “murderous attack” and said he was satisfied the “dismemberment of Mr Heagney’s body and the nature of its disposal was intended to conceal the murder”.

The judge said it was a case of “high culpability”.

In a statement on Friday, the Heagney family said the “last few years have been torturous”.

“No one should ever have to deal with the heartache of losing a son and a brother, yet we have to wake up every single morning knowing that Damien was murdered,” the statement said,” they said.

“Damien’s life was taken so cruelly and the actions that followed were depraved – more than we can ever begin to express.

“It’s actually impossible to stop thinking about what happened to Damien.

“We go over it, again and again, and it haunts us.

“Yet, among the torment, we’ve each taken comfort from the genuine kindness and support shown by others.”

The family thanked the witnesses who came forward to “give vital information”.

“Your help has proved to be so important to this trial,” the statement said.

They also thanked the jury and the investigation team.

Speaking outside court on Friday, Det Sup Rachel Wilson said that while the exact cause of Mr Heagney’s death had never been determined, the post-mortem examination identified possible stab wounds to his head, neck, arms and legs.

“This was the most senseless loss of life, it was a murder made even more disturbing by the way in which Mr Heagney’s body was subsequently dismembered, concealed in a number of packages and ultimately disposed of in a reservoir,” Det Sup Wilson said.

“These actions were callous, cruel and brutal beyond comprehension.”

She said McCourt had finally been held accountable.

“I know that Damien’s loving family have understandably been left heartbroken, and my thoughts remain with them today,” she said.

“They have suffered unimaginably, yet have managed to show remarkable dignity and patience throughout this entire process.”

Catherine Kierans, head of the Public Prosecution Service’s (PPS) serious crime unit, said in a statement on Friday that it was a “strong circumstantial case with various strands of evidence”.

She said the PPS prosecution team worked with police to “build a robust case” against McCourt.

“McCourt has now been held accountable for the horrendous and violent murder of Damien Heagney,” Ms Kierans said.

“I want to commend Mr Heagney’s family for their bravery and dignity. He was a much-loved son who is missed terribly by everyone who knew him,” she said.

“I hope the conclusion of this case will help his family and friends to move forward with their lives, as they try to come to terms with his death.”