Damien Heagney murder trial begins

The trial of a man accused of the murder of 46-year-old Damien Heagney from Cookstown, in County Tyrone has begun.

Stephen McCourt, 41, from Riverview in Augher denies murdering Mr Heagney on a date unknown between 29 December 2021 and 7 January 2022.

Mr Heagney was last seen in Dromore on New Year's Eve in 2021.

He was reported missing in July 2022 and the following month his partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir in County Tyrone.

The murder trial got underway at Dungannon Crown Court on Wednesday.

Barrister Sam Magee KC said it was the prosecution's case that Mr McCourt was not only in involved in Mr Heagney's murder but also in attempts to dispose of his body.

Mr Magee KC told the jury that Mr Heagney's mutilated body was found in Cappagh reservoir in two separate sacks tied with sheep wire.

The prosecution said that this was "an apparent attempt to dispose of the body" and the court also heard that there was a rock in one of the sacks to weigh it down.

Mr Magee KC said it was the prosecution's case that Stephen McCourt was the last person to see Damien Heagney alive.

He also said there was evidence that in the early hours of 31 December 2021, there were a series of mobile phone contacts between Mr McCourt and Mr Heagney.

The prosecution outlined that on 6 January 2022, a van that Mr McCourt drove was seen at the reservoir where Mr Heagney's body would later be found.

Mr Magee KC also added that the prosecution's case would detail how traces of Mr Heagney's blood were found at an address of Mr McCourt's.

The court heard that Mr Heagney's body was identified on 11 August 2022 and a post-mortem found multiple stab wounds on his body.

However, because of the condition and decomposition of the body, the pathologist was unable to confirm the cause of death and could not confirm if the stab wounds were caused before or after death.

But fingerprints and DNA samples were able to identify that the remains were that of Mr Heagney.

Family members of Mr Heagney were visibly upset in court during some of the evidence.

The court heard that Stephen McCourt was arrested in October 2022.

During police interview a prepared statement by Mr McCourt was read out by his solicitor.

It outlined that Mr McCourt denied murdering Mr Heagney.

In the statement Mr McCourt said that he was away in Turkey and Scotland at different periods towards the end of 2021.

He said that the victim would have had access to his property in Dromore and that due to his lifestyle people would have had access to his vehicles with or without his permission.

The judge told members of the jury that it is estimated that the trial would last for about four weeks.

The trial continues.