Man Convicted of Brutal Murder After Harrowing Trial

A man has been found guilty of murdering Damien Heagney whose dismembered remains were recovered from a reservoir around eight months after he was last seen alive.

Stephen Eugene McCourt's Denial
Stephen Eugene McCourt, 41, previously of Gartland Terrace, Dromore then Riverview in Augher,Co Tyronedenied murdering the victim between 31 December 2021 and 6 January 2022, but the jury took just under three hours to unanimouslyconvicthim on Wednesday.

Details of the Investigation
The trial atDungannonCrown Court heard that in July 2022 Mr Heagney’s GP practice contacted police to carry out a welfare check as he hadn’t collected his medication in-person since 7 December 2021, and until May 2022 it was collected by someone else who claimed to have permission to do so. Police launched a missing person investigation, however after information was received the matter was updated to a murder inquiry.

Discovery of Remains
On 10 August 2022 Mr Heaney’s dismembered remains were recovered in two packages from Cappagh Reservoir near Pomeroy. After three weeks of evidence the prosecution case closed on Monday 7 April. Immediately after, defence counsel stated McCourt would not be giving evidence.

Witness Testimonies
During the trial multiple witnesses were called including a vehicle recovery operator who collected Mr Heagney’s broken down car and moved it to McCourt’s home in Dromore on New Year’s Eve 2021. A few days later McCourt’s neighbour observed him placing strips of carpet into the rear of a white van, noting one piece had a large, dark stain.

Cell-site Analysis
A specialistPSNIdetective who carried out cell-site analysis said McCourt’s phone was in the Ballygawley area around 8pm on New Year’s Eve 2021 when Mr Heagney’s phone attempted a voice call which was not answered followed by a text. McCourt twice responded by text. From that night until 3 January 2022, Mr Heagney’s phone remained at McGartland Terrace, however around midday it travelled between Dromore and Kesh, close to Lower Lough Erne.

Disposal of Evidence
On 2 January 2022, McCourt’s phone, “Detached from the network for just over 16 hours” in the Dromore area. The SIM card activated the next day inCookstown, “having been placed into another handset”. When Mr Heagney’s phone “briefly sparked into life”, McCourt’s device was removed from the network.

Discovery of Body Parts
In early January 2022 a vehicle recovery operator, who knew McCourt as ‘Reggie’ removed a BMW from his home. A few days later he towed a white van for McCourt, which had become stuck in grass near Cappagh Reservoir where, “Reggie opened the gate” to let him in. 0n 10 August 2022 an NI Water Inspector observed a suspicious package encased in sheepwire in Cappagh Reservoir and alerted authorities. A diver observed a human foot and subsequently two legs with wire around the upper parts.

Pathologist's Findings
The pathologist could not ascertain a cause of death, “due to decomposition and dismemberment”. There were three stab-like injuries to the head and neck, similar wounds to the arms and multiple incisions to the left leg. The injuries required at least moderate force and if inflicted during life would have bled briskly but unlikely to prove life-threatening. The pathologist said: “The upper limbs had been disarticulated and the lower limbs were dismembered. They had been cut uniformly, strongly suggestive of sawing, quite possibly some form of electric saw … All remains were in a similar state and could have been in the water since Mr Heagney’s disappearance, however this cannot be stated with absolute certainty.”

Verdict
The jury retired to commence deliberations yesterday (Tuesday) before resuming today, then returning a unanimous guilty verdict