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Sunday World
03-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man blinded partner's dad in horror attack after Christmas Day dinner
The victim was rushed to hospital and lost vision in his left eye, while his wife and daughter sustained minor injuries. A man who blinded his partner's father in one eye during a drunken Christmas Day assault before fleeing across the border has been jailed. Due to losing sight in his left eye, the injured party had to leave his job at Translink, where he had worked for 44 years. James Fawl (43) also assaulted his partner and her mother during the incident. Originally from Co Clare and with an address at Alexandra Park Avenue in Belfast, the defendant was handed a two-year sentence today that has been divided equally between prison and licence. Belfast Crown Court heard that on December 25, 2020, Fawl's partner hosted a Christmas dinner in her house in the east of the city. Her parents were also present. During the course of the day, Fawl consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and became emotional when his partner put on a song that reminded him of his late mother as Christmas was the anniversary of her death. Fawl's partner then put on more upbeat music, which appeared to annoy him. He started shouting at her, an argument developed, and she walked out of the room. He followed her, with the woman's father trying to calm Fawl down by standing in front of his daughter and wife. As Fawl continued shouting, his partner's father put his arm on a bannister in a bid to act as a barrier between the defendant and the two women. Fawl then attacked the older man, punching him numerous times. This resulted in the injured party falling to the ground and feeling immediate pain in his left eye, which was bleeding. During the melee, Fawl appeared to realise the seriousness of the injury he had just inflicted and walked back into the living room. The victim was rushed to hospital and lost vision in his left eye, while his wife and daughter sustained minor injuries. Fawl was interviewed by police on Boxing Day. He told officers he had been drinking too much the day before, that an argument had broken out and he was heartbroken by what had happened. Despite this, he fled across the border and had to be extradited. He later admitted one count of grievous bodily harm and two counts of common assault. Belfast Crown Court News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 Crown barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman told Judge Reel that the injured party's vision is not expected to improve and that the only option available is the removal of his left eye and an artificial replacement. Judge Reel revealed a statement written by the injured party indicated how he now uses a prosthesis shield that he wears over his left eye, which he has to remove and clean every night. The man also detailed the nightmares he suffers, having to leave his job with Translink and the adjustment to his life having lost the sight in his eye. The judge said: "Quite simply, this incident changed his life." Defence barrister Jonpaul Shields told Judge Reel: "I would like to state formally, on behalf of the defendant, that he is truly and genuinely sorry for what has happened and offers an absolute unreserved and unambiguous apology to the family." He added his client wrote a letter which was then read out. It said: 'I am writing to express my remorse. On the 25th of December 2020, I gave an awful account of myself and I have lived with the feelings of guilt, shame and remorse ever since.' Describing his now former partner's father as a good man, Fawl's letter added: 'I can't begin to understand the pain and suffering he has endured. 'I sincerely apologise to the family... I know how much they love him and my actions have had a devastating effect on all involved. My heart truly goes out to them. I deeply regret what I have done and pray for their forgiveness. I am sorry.' Judge Reel said the expressions of remorse and regret "would have been more easily accepted had the defendant remained to face the consequences of his actions rather than leaving the jurisdiction'. He added that he had read and considered further defence submissions and accepted Fawl was experiencing poor mental health when he absconded. It was heard that Fawl has no previous convictions, is in a new relationship and is "keen" to return to home when he has served his sentence. As he imposed the two-year sentence, Judge Reel addressed Fawl: "The result of your act was devastating. It was a life-changing injury inflicted on the injured party." He also told Fawl that by fleeing the country he displayed "no regard for the victims who were left with the open wound of this case hanging over them'. He also granted a Crown application and imposed five-year restraining orders which ban Fawl from contacting his ex-partner, her mother and her father.
Sunday World
28-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man who described himself as Belfast city's ‘number one coke vendor' spared jail again
Judge Sandra Crawford told Kieran Johnston that she was deferring sentencing until December 19 this year to allow him to continue his involvement in training courses and drug addiction intervention programmes. A south Belfast man who described himself as the city's 'No 1 Coke Vendor' has been spared prison for a second time. Judge Sandra Crawford told Kieran Johnston that she was deferring sentencing until December 19 this year to allow him to continue his involvement in training courses and drug addiction intervention programmes. In April this year, the judge postponed sentencing until today to see what progress the 21-year-old has made with his drug addiction issues. Johnston, of Hatfield Street off the Ormeau Road, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. He further admitted offering to supply both cocaine and cannabis and possessing criminal property totalling £9,867. Belfast Crown Court heard that on June 23, 2023, police carried out a search of Johnston's home and found 30g of cocaine in self-sealed bags along with a bag containing 43 ecstasy tablets. A bag containing 15g of benzocaine, a mixing agent used to adulterate cocaine, was also seized. The search also netted drug-related paraphernalia including weighing scales, a grinder, £7,155 in cash was seized along with luxury items of watches, trainers and clothing valued at around £2,700. 'Police seized the defendant's mobile phone and found 25 WhatsApp messages of him offering to sell cocaine and cannabis under the banner headline of 'No 1 Coke Vendor Belfast',' Mr McNeill said. 'The drugs, money and high-value goods were stored in Johnston's house and he was running his criminal operation from his bedroom, supplying street-level deals of drugs.' The court was told that the prosecution accepted that because of his young age, Johnston was likely to have been 'acting on behalf of a wider organised crime group'. During police interviews, Johnston made the case that he had been 'coerced' into the offending after building up a personal drug debt of several thousand pounds. In a pre-sentence report, Johnston told a probation officer: 'I knew what I was doing was wrong.' Kieran Johnston (Credit: Alan Lewis) News in 90 Seconds - June 28th At the sentencing hearing today, Judge Crawford said Johnston is currently working at a part-time job. 'He has engaged positively with Belfast Works Connect and has successfully completed a course in construction skills,' she noted. 'He is embarking on further programmes with this organisation. He has sought a referral for drug intervention and has been referred to Inspire Addiction Services and this is much-needed work and his issues with drug taking are ongoing.' Judge Crawford said Johnston was on a waiting list for that work and the court was told he has his first appointment with Inspire Addiction Services next week. 'It is not without a certain degree of hesitation that I am persuaded that the appropriate course, rather than impose an immediate sentence of imprisonment, is to defer sentencing for six months,' she added. 'I consider that there is meaningful evidence before me to justify such a deferral.' As part of the deferral, Johnston must attend all appointments and engage fully in any drug relapse intervention programmes. He is required to engage with all training courses and opportunities deemed appropriate for him by Belfast Works Connect. The defendant was told he must return to court later this year and be able to show he has kept away from all trouble and further offending and warned not to consume any alcohol or drugs other than those prescribed by his medical advisers. Judge Crawford made it clear she would require an up-to-date pre-sentence report along with a drug test by December's hearing. She said if the defendant can prove that he has complied with all of the conditions of the deferral, she would look at a disposal other than immediate custody. Judge Crawford added: 'This is a matter that is in the defendant's hands. 'If he takes the opportunity that has been afforded to him he will be successful in avoiding a custodial sentence. 'If he doesn't, he will face prison.'
Irish Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man jailed for minimum of 24 years for murdering friend and dumping body
A man who murdered another man and then dismembered and dumped his body in a reservoir in Co Tyrone has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years. Stephen McCourt, 41, from Riverview in Augher, Co Tyrone, was found guilty of murdering Damien Heagney after a trial which ended in April this year. Mr Heagney, 47, from Cookstown, was last seen alive at the end of December 2021. He was reported missing in July 2022 and, the following month, his partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir. Mr Justice Stephen Fowler told Belfast Crown Court that the dismemberment of his body was "callous in the extreme" and added greatly to the distress of his family, in particular his mother. He also said that the disposal of Mr Heagney's body in the reservoir was an additional step taken to "conceal, destroy evidence, cover the murder and subvert police investigation". The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "I'm satisfied to the required standard that Mr Heagney's death was the result of a vicious attack with a knife, including numerous blows to one of the most vulnerable parts of the body, the head," Mr Justice Fowler added. "It involved a number of injuries to the head, including the tip of the knife breaking off and lodging in the skull. "I'm also satisfied that, as a compelling influence from consideration of the totality of the evidence, including that it was reasonable to be inferred that the knife wounds were also sustained in the deceased's arm and the deceased died from the attack by the defendant. "I consider it to be a case of multiple stabbing. "I consider this to be a case of high culpability, the starting point of 20 years. I also find the following aggravating factors to be present." He cited the issues around the dismemberment and disposal of the body as aggravating factors in the case. He added that further aggravating factors were the defendant's criminal record. "His previous convictions for wounding with intent and his two previous findings of dangerousness," Mr Justice Fowler added. "He has failed to respond to previous sentences and intervention. "A pre-sentence report was received from the Probation Service and, surprisingly, the report concludes that the defendant poses a significant risk of serious harm, given the myriad of risk factors and absence of any significant protective factors. "In terms of mitigation, the only matter in relation to the offending I can identify is that there is no evidence this attack was premeditated or planned, given text messages between the two men. "However, I see no personal mitigation in this case. "Having identified the aggravating factors, I consider an uplift of five years in sentences merited, which is tempered by a modest degree of mitigation, which will be reflected in a reduction of one year. "Looking at what is the appropriate tariff in this case, I come to the conclusion that the tariff that is appropriate to the circumstances of this case will be 24 years. "This is equivalent of a prison sentence of 48 years."
BreakingNews.ie
27-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Killer who dismembered and dumped man's body in reservoir jailed for at least 24 years
A man who murdered, dismembered and dumped another man's body in a reservoir in Co Tyrone has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years. Stephen McCourt (41), from Riverview in Augher, in Co Tyrone, was found guilty of murdering Damien Heagney following a trial which ended in April this year. Advertisement Mr Heagney (47), from Cookstown, was last seen alive at the end of December 2021. He was reported missing in July 2022 and his partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir the following month. Mr Justice Stephen Fowler told Belfast Crown Court that the dismemberment was 'callous in the extreme' and added greatly to his family's distress, in particular the victim's mother. He also said that the disposal of Mr Heagney's body in the reservoir was an additional step taken to 'conceal, destroy evidence, cover the murder and subvert police investigation'. Advertisement The family of Mr Heagney said the actions that led to his death were 'depraved'. A family statement said: 'The last few years have been torturous for our family. '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. 'Damien's life was taken so cruelly, and the actions that followed were depraved – more than we can ever begin to express. Advertisement '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. 'We would like to thank the jury who put in so much time and effort, listening to all the evidence to bring back a guilty verdict, especially in such a difficult case. We will always be grateful to them.' A senior police officer said the murder was the 'most senseless loss of a life.' Advertisement Speaking following the sentencing of Mr McCourt, Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: 'While the exact cause of Mr Heagney's death has never been determined due to the decomposition of his remains, the post-mortem did identify possible stab wounds to his head, neck, arms and legs. 'This was the most senseless loss of a 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. 'These actions were callous, cruel and brutal beyond comprehension. 'Today, working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service and thanks to the support of NI Water, internal police teams and members of the public, Stephen McCourt has finally been held accountable. 'I know that Damien's loving family have understandably been left broken-hearted, and my thoughts remain with them today. 'They have suffered unimaginably, yet have managed to show remarkable dignity and patience throughout this entire process.'
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
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 Heagney, 45, from Cookstown, County Tyrone, was last seen alive at the end of December partially dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir, County Tyrone in July 2022, a month after he was reported 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.
