Blood matching murder victim found in accused's flat

The remains of Damien Heagney were recovered from a reservoir in 2022

Blood matching that of Cookstown man Damien Heagney was found in the flat of the man accused of his murder, a court heard on Monday.

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

As the Crown case against Mr McCourt was opened at Belfast Crown Court, a prosecutor said the accused was seen "loading a carpet" bearing "dark stain" into the back of his white van.

The remains of Mr Heagney, 47, were recovered from a reservoir in Cappagh in August 2022.

Opening the case against McCourt to the jury of seven women and five men, Crown barrister Gary McHugh KC likened the different pieces of evidence to a jigsaw puzzle.

Mr McHugh said "when each piece of evidence" was put together, it would lead them to conclude that Mr McCourt murdered Mr Heagney.

Pharmacy staff

Mr McHugh said Mr Heagney was last seen alive at the end of December 2021 and that his last known telephone traffic was on New Year's Day 2022.

After experiencing trouble with his BMW, Mr Heagney contacted a vehicle breakdown company on December 30/31, and both he and his vehicle were dropped off close to McGartland Terrace in Dromore, where Mr McCourt was living at the time.

The court heard the last recorded activity on Mr Heagney’s phone was to Mr McCourt.

In July 2022 concerns were raised about Mr Heagney by staff at a pharmacy who noticed that he had stopped picking up his prescription.

His Cookstown home was searched by police where officers discovered a pile of unopened mail and formed the impression no-one had been in the property for some time.

Mr McHugh said the following month the reservoir at Cappagh was searched and partial human remains were located.

Bolt cutters

Following the discover of Mr Heagney's remains, police searched the property of Mr McCourt.

Forensic samples including a swab from a smear of blood located on a bedroom door frame were taken from the flat and analysed.

Mr McHugh told the jury: "This sample of blood, we say, matched with Mr Heagney and you will hear expert evidence about that."

Following the discovery of Mr Heagney's dismembered remains, a property in Dungannon linked to Mr McCourt was searched by police and a pair of bolt cutters was found in a shed.

A piece of wire found around the remains was forensically examined and an expert formed the view that these bolt cutters could have cut the wire recovered around sections of the remains.

Mr McHugh also revealed that in January 2022, Mr McCourt contacted a vehicle recovery company and paid them to remove Mr Heagney's BMW from Dromore.

The accused gave the company the car key and told them to leave the BMW at crossroads on the Omagh to Ballygawley Road, where it remained for several months.

Mr McCourt was subsequently arrested on 10 October 2022 and when he was asked if he had killed Mr Heagney, he replied: "No I did not."

The jury also heard that Mr McCourt was questioned by police about the case for three days and in that time he replied no comment to virtually every question.

During the final interview which took place, Mr McCourt issued a short statement through his solicitor and said that from time to time other people had access to his vehicles without his consent.

During the prosecution’s opening speech the court also heard that in January 2022 Mr McCourt contacted a vehicle recovery service to retrieve a van that had been stuck in a location close to Cappagh reservoir.

The trial continues.