Children screamed as father was stabbed

TWO children screamed as they looked through the front blinds of the family home and saw their father being stabbed to death, the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick has heard.

Richard Higgins, aged 42, of 1 New Houses, Lattin, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his next-door neighbour, Seán Murphy, aged 29, of 2, New Houses, on January 17, 2010. He also denies threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Murphy and his partner, Paula Hassett, on dates in October and December 2009.

The state claims Mr Murphy died after he was stabbed once by Higgins, who had armed himself with an ornamental dagger.