By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man whose remains were found in a Co Tyrone reservoir.
During a brief hearing at Strabane Magistrates’ Court, Stephen Eugene McCourt, from McGartland Terrace, Dromore, was charged with murdering Damien Heagney between December 30 2021 and January 6 2022.
When asked if he understood the charge, the 39-year-old replied “yes”.
A PSNI detective inspector told the court he could connect the accused to the charge.
There was no application for bail and McCourt was remanded in custody until November 2.
A murder investigation was launched after the remains of Mr Heagney were recovered from a reservoir in Cappagh, Co Tyrone, in August.
The 47-year-old, from Cookstown, was last seen in Dromore on New Year’s Eve in 2021.

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