Blood matching murder victim discovered in accused’s apartment, court hears

On Monday, a court was informed that blood corresponding to Cookstown resident Damien Heagney was discovered in the apartment of the individual charged with his murder. Stephen McCourt, 41, residing at Riverview in Augher, refutes the charge of murdering Mr. Heagney, with the alleged offense occurring on an unspecified date between December 29, 2021, and January 7, 2022. During the commencement of the Crown’s prosecution against Mr. McCourt at Belfast Crown Court, a prosecutor stated that the defendant was observed “loading a carpet” with a “dark stain” into his white van. Mr. Heagney’s remains, aged 47, were located in a reservoir in Cappagh in August 2022. Presenting the case to a jury comprising seven women and five men, Crown barrister Gary McHugh KC compared the various evidentiary components to a jigsaw puzzle. Mr. McHugh asserted that “when each piece of evidence” was assembled, it would compel them to determine that Mr. McCourt murdered Mr. Heagney. According to Mr. McHugh, Mr. Heagney’s last sighting alive was in late December 2021, and his final recorded phone activity occurred on New Year’s Day 2022. Following issues with his BMW, Mr. Heagney contacted a vehicle breakdown service on December 30/31. Subsequently, both he and his car were transported to a location near McGartland Terrace in Dromore, the then-residence of Mr. McCourt. The court was informed that the final recorded action on Mr. Heagney’s mobile phone involved Mr. McCourt. In July 2022, pharmacy personnel expressed concerns regarding Mr. Heagney after observing that he had ceased collecting his prescription. A police search of his Cookstown residence revealed a collection of unopened mail, leading officers to believe the property had been unoccupied for a considerable period. Mr. McHugh stated that in the subsequent month, a search of the Cappagh reservoir led to the discovery of partial human remains. After Mr. Heagney’s remains were found, police conducted a search of Mr. McCourt’s property. Forensic specimens, including a swab from a blood smear found on a bedroom door frame, were collected from the apartment and analyzed. Mr. McHugh informed the jury: “This sample of blood, we say, matched with Mr Heagney and you will hear expert evidence about that.” Subsequent to the finding of Mr. Heagney’s dismembered remains, law enforcement officers searched a Dungannon property associated with Mr. McCourt, where a pair of bolt cutters was located in a shed. A segment of wire discovered near the remains underwent forensic examination, and an expert concluded that these bolt cutters were capable of cutting the wire found around portions of the remains. Mr. McHugh further disclosed that in January 2022, Mr. McCourt engaged a vehicle recovery firm, compensating them to transport Mr. Heagney’s BMW from Dromore. The defendant provided the car key to the company and instructed them to deposit the BMW at a crossroads on the Omagh to Ballygawley Road, where it stayed for several months. Mr. McCourt was subsequently apprehended on October 10, 2022. When questioned about Mr. Heagney’s death, he responded: “No I did not.” The jury was also informed that Mr. McCourt underwent police questioning regarding the case for three days, during which he offered “no comment” to almost every inquiry. In his concluding interview, Mr. McCourt released a brief statement via his solicitor, asserting that on occasion, other individuals had accessed his vehicles without his permission. During the prosecution’s opening remarks, the court was additionally informed that in January 2022, Mr. McCourt contacted a vehicle recovery service to retrieve a van that had become immobilized near Cappagh reservoir. The proceedings are ongoing.