Tyrone GAA captain Sean Hackett charged with murdering his dad Aloysius

TYRONE GAA minor captain Sean Hackett has faced a court on Tuesday charged with the gunshot murder of his father Aloysius ‘Wishie’ Hackett.

Omagh Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that Sean Hackett had made an admission to police that he shot his 60-year-old father at the family home near Augher, Co Tyrone.

But a defence lawyer told the court that the 18-year-old suffers from depression and continues to have the love and support of his family.

The court heard the accused initially told police he had returned home to find his father’s body.

He later said he had shot him, the court heard, and had asked a friend to obtain a gun for him twice in the last two months.

District Judge Bernie Kelly refused bail.

However, the judge granted an application for compassionate bail for a number of hours on Wednesday to attend his father’s funeral under strict conditions.

Mr Hackett will be chaperoned to the Requiem Mass by his lawyer, Adrian O’Kane, and Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte

He will not be allowed to speak to anyone else, including family members.

The accused is not allowed access to a mobile phone or the internet while travelling to and from the funeral and is only permitted to speak to his solicitor and Mickey Harte.

An appeal by the prosecution against the granting of the compassionate bail application was heard later at the High Court in Belfast.

It heard that Sean Hackett had borrowed a legally held rifle from a friend last November.

He borrowed it again on New Year’s Day. The weapon was later found in a car used by Sean Hackett and two cartridges were found in his pocket.

The court also heard that at 0ne point last year he even tried to strangle his mother.

Mr Justice Mark Horner QC rejected prosecution attempts to have the compassionate bail stopped.

He granted bail for five hours and imposed the same restrictions as Omagh Magistrates Court.

Sean Hackett, who was arrested shortly after the incident, did not look at his family during the hearing in the magistrates court.

His mother, two brothers and sister were in court for the hearing along with a large number of supporters who waved to the teenager as he left the dock.

His mother was distraught throughout and broke down fully when bail was refused and compassionate bail granted.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old man, who was arrested on Sunday, in connection with Mr Hackett’s death has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service

The remains of ‘Wishie’ Hackett will leave his family home at 6a Aughnadarragh Road, Augher on Wednesday at 11 am for 12 noon Requiem Mass in St Paul’s Church.

He will be buried afterwards in St Paul’s cemetery.