I passed the GAA Club (St Macartan’s) at Augher on the main Ballygawley to Clogher road twice this evening (Tuesday) so my thoughts were with the Hackett family and their friends and neighbours……

More details have emerged about the death last Friday evening of Wishie (Aloysius) Hackett, a leading member of St Macartan’s GAA Club, who was found dead at his home at Aghindarragh Road near Augher in County Tyrone. His 18 year-old son Sean, a former Tyrone minor footballer, has been remanded in custody charged with murdering his father, aged 60. Omagh magistrates court heard that Sean Hackett initially told police he had returned home to find his father’s body. He later said he had shot him, the court heard. He was granted compassionate bail to attend his father’s funeral at noon on Wednesday at St Macartan’s church, Springtown Road, Ballynagurragh near Augher.

St Macartan’s church, Augher  © M.Fisher

The BBC reports that “Omagh Magistrate’s Court heard Mr Hackett was being treated for depression and had asked a friend to obtain a gun for him twice in the last two months. The compassionate bail for Wednesday’s funeral has been granted under strict conditions. Mr Hackett is not allowed access to a mobile phone or to the internet while travelling to and from the funeral and is only permitted to speak to two chaperones, including a solicitor and the (Tyrone) GAA manager Mickey Harte. He is not allowed to speak to immediate family members. Sean Hackett, who was arrested shortly after the incident, did not look at his family during the hearing. 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”.

The Public Prosecution Service appealed the decision to grant compassionate bail at the High Court. Refusing the appeal, a judge directed that the accused’s two chaperones must collect him from Hydebank Young Offender’s Centre near Belfast, take him to the requiem Mass  in Augher and immediately afterwards return him to custody. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old youth arrested on Sunday in connection with Mr Hackett’s death has been released pending a report to the PPS.