A young Gaelic football star accused of murdering his father with a gun he obtained by texting a friend claims he suffers from depression, a court has heard.
A detective told Omagh Magistrates Court that Seán Hackett (18) initially denied involvement in the death of his father, Aloysius (60), but later admitted: “I did it, I shot him.”
The father of four was found dead in the back yard of the family home near Augher, Co Tyrone, late last Friday night.
A defence lawyer told Judge Bernie Kelly that the accused – last season’s captain of the Tyrone Gaelic football minor team – still had the full support and love of his mother Eilish, sister Aileen and brothers Kevin and Conor, all of whom were in court for the remand hearing. Ms Kelly granted the accused compassionate bail to attend his father’s funeral under the strict condition that he is chaperoned by two volunteers, one of whom will be Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte.
The detective said that after first confessing, the defendant remained silent for three subsequent days of questioning. He instead submitted a written statement admitting involvement in an “incident” which resulted in the death of his father.
