Damien Heagney: 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.
What was said in court?
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.
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