Second jury discharged in Damien Heagney murder trial

The jury overseeing the trial concerning the murder of Cookstown resident Damien Heagney has been dismissed. After two weeks of presented evidence, a legal complication arose, prompting the judge to release the 12 members of the jury. This represents the second time the proceedings at Belfast Crown Court have been halted. Mr. Heagney, 47, was last observed alive in late December 2021. He was reported missing in July 2022, and his partially dismembered remains were subsequently discovered in the Cappagh reservoir in County Tyrone the following month. Stephen McCourt, 41, from Riverview in Augher, has been charged with, and has denied, the murder of Mr. Heagney on an unspecified date between December 29, 2021, and January 7, 2022. During the two-week period, witnesses were called to provide testimony. This included a diver who retrieved two packages containing body parts from the reservoir on August 10, 2022, and a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on the remains. The prosecution had not concluded its case when the legal issue emerged. Consequently, the judge addressed the jury, comprising seven men and five women, informing them: “I have been trying very hard to resolve a legal and practical difficulty that has arisen in the case.” He continued, stating: “Unfortunately that has not as yet been resolved and will not be resolved within a reasonable timeframe – and accordingly I am going to have to discharge you from sitting further on this jury trial.” Offering his apologies, he added: “The matters that are outstanding are important and vital to the fairness of the trial and I simply cannot proceed with the trial at this stage.” The senior judge thanked the 12 members for the “attention” and “diligence” they demonstrated in what he described as a “difficult case to listen to,” and informed them they would not be required to serve on another jury for the next 10 years. Before their departure from court, the judge concluded by saying “have a good Christmas.” This marks the second instance a jury assigned to this case has been discharged. Last month, three days of evidence were heard at Belfast Crown Court before an unrelated legal issue arose, which led to a similar decision being made by the same judge.