Murder trial hears victim was struck multiple times

A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork has heard that 80-year-old Timothy 'Teddy' Murnane, who died in September 2025, was killed after sustaining multiple blows to the face and skull.

Sean Harding, of Marian Terrace in Tipperary town is charged with the murder of Mr Murnane at the deceased's home at Michaels Avenue in Tipperary town on 12 September 2025.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, two at St Michael's Avenue on 12 September 2025, and a third at another address at St Michael's Avenue between 11 and 12 September 2025.

When arraigned on the charge of murder, Mr Harding replied that he was not guilty of murder but that he was guilty of manslaughter.

The murder trial opened at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today, presided over by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford.

In his opening statement to a jury of 7 women and 5 men, Senior Counsel for the prosecution Karl Finnegan said the central issue in the case was whether the evidence would establish that Mr Harding actually intended to kill or cause serious bodily harm to Mr Murnane.

Giving an overview of the expected evidence to be heard throughout the case, Mr Finnegan said that in the evening of 12 September 2025, Mr Harding stole from the property of Mr Murnane on two occasions.

He first entered a shed in the back garden and stole tools belonging to Mr Murnane.

The accused then returned to Mr Murnane's home between 9pm and 10pm that night and took more tools from the same shed.

Mr Murnane subsequently went outside to investigate a sound he had heard in his garage.

Minutes later, Mr Murnane's wife found him seriously injured in the back garden bleeding from the ear and breathing with difficulty.

At this point, the prosecution said, Mr Murnane's wife saw that the garage door was open, the light was on, and although it was usually "kept immaculately with everything in its place", the garage's contents were noticeably disturbed.

Mr Murnane's son, who arrived soon after and called emergency services, also noticed that a burglary may have taken place, and was also able to identify missing tools owned by him and his father to gardaí.

The prosecution also referred to evidence provided by first responders, who said that on their arrival, Mr Murnane was unresponsive with swelling and bruising around his eye.

They also saw vomit on the ground.

First responders made efforts to manage the deceased airways, but his condition deteriorated on the way to hospital.

When Mr Murnane was brought to hospital, the prosecution said, doctors recorded head injuries, low level consciousness, bleeding from the left ear, and multiple skull fractures.

To doctors, Mr Finnegan added, it appeared like the deceased had been struck multiple times on the head, with most of his injuries inflicted above the neck.

Mr Murnane died at University Hospital Limerick on 14 September 2025, two days after being found outside his home.

Mr Finnegan then highlighted evidence given by State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers, who, after conducting a post mortem examination, found that Mr Murnane died from complications arising from blunt force trauma to the head.

Dr Okkers also saw extensive swelling and bruising to Mr Murnane's face and head, as well as multiple fractures on the back of his head.

Mr Finnegan then told the jury that in Dr Okkers opinion, Mr Murnane's injuries arose from multiple hits to head with a fist and object with a flat surface, and his fall to the ground.

She also found bruising that suggested "defensive type injuries".

The court then heard that a black bag that was found in the Murnane's shed, which the family said did not belong to them, had Mr Harding's DNA on its straps.

The prosecution also referred to Mr Harding's interview with gardaí following his arrest on 13 September 2025.

During the interview, Mr Harding, who was 31 at the time, said that he was inside Mr Murnane's shed to take tools and heard someone approaching.

He then "barged past" Mr Murnane as he tried to get away, causing the deceased to fall over.

Mr Harding then told gardaí that he did not mean to hurt the deceased.

After hearing that he had later died in hospital, Mr Harding said: "I'm after killing someone. I didn't mean to kill him."

Mr Finnegan also told the jury that the third alleged burglary, which took place at 133 St Michael's Avenue between 11 and 12 September 2025, was not related to the events that took place at Mr Murnane's home.

The trial continues tomorrow and is expected to last until 13 November.