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

His partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir, County Tyrone in July 2022, a month after he was reported missing.

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

At a tariff hearing at Belfast Crown Court, 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” and that the appropriate tariff is one of 24 years.

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.

“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 has never been determined, “the post-mortem did identify 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 has “finally been held accountable”.

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

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