Jury retires to consider evidence in Heagney murder trial

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Damien Heagney whose dismembered remains were recovered from a reservoir around eight months after he was last seen alive, has retired to consider the evidence.

Stephen Eugene McCourt, 41, previously of Gartland Terrace, Dromore, then Riverview, Augher, denies murdering the victim between December 31, 2021 and January 6, 2022.

In July 2022, his GP practice contacted police as he hadn’t collected his medication in-person since December 7, 2021 and until May 2022 was lifted by someone else claiming to have permission to do so.

On August 10, 2022 his dismembered remains were recovered in two packages from Cappagh Reservoir near Pomeroy.

Mr Justice Fowler today provided the jury with an overview of the evidence heard over the last three weeks at Dungannon Crown Court.

The prosecution case closed yesterday after which the defence stated McCourt would not be giving evidence.

He confirmed McCourt had been made aware the jury draw an inference from his decision not to give evidence.