A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been handed a life sentence for the murder of Damien Heagney.

Stephen McCourt, from Dromore, Co Down, appeared before Belfast Crown Court today for the murder of Heagney.

McCourt had been given a life sentence in April, and was today told he will serve a minimum of 24 years in prison.

Heagney was last seen alive in late December 2021 and was initially reported missing on 19 July,  2022. 

A murder investigation was launched two weeks later and Heagney’s dismembered remains were recovered from Cappagh Reservoir in Pomeroy, Co Tyrone on 10 August 2022.

PSNI Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said that from the evidence, officers identified McCourt as a suspect in the early stages of the investigation. 

This included an analysis of mobile phones belonging to both Heagney and McCourt, analysis of the vehicle movements of both, as well as interviews with numerous witnesses.   

The PSNI charged McCourt with murder in October 2022, he pleaded not guilty, and continued to profess his innocence throughout the judicial process.

However, he was convicted following a four-week trial on 9 April of this year.

Photograph of Damien Heagney

Detective Superintendent Wilson said that while the exact cause of Heagney’s death has never been determined due to the decomposition of his remains, the post mortem examination identified possible stab wounds to his head, neck, arms and legs.

“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, said Wilson.

She described the murder as “callous, cruel and brutal beyond comprehension”. 

She added: “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.”

In a statement, the Heagney family first paid thanks to all the witnesses who “bravely came forward to give vital information”.

The family said that the “last few years have been torturous”.

“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,” said the family in a statement.

They said that Damien’s life “was taken so cruelly, and the actions that followed were depraved – more than we can ever begin to express”.

The family added that it is “actually impossible to stop thinking about what happened to Damien” and that it “haunts” them

“Yet, among the torment, we’ve each taken comfort from the genuine kindness and support shown by others,” said Heagney’s family.

The family also thanked the jury for their “time and effort, especially in such a difficult case”. 

They also thanked the PSNI investigation team for guiding them through the process and to their legal team for prosecuting the case.