Murder accused ‘acted in self-defence’

A MAN charged with murder who claims he acted in self-defence had marks to his back consistent with having been hit with an implement, the Central Criminal Court in Limerick was told yesterday.

Richard Higgins, 42, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his next-door neighbour, Sean Murphy, 29, at the New Houses estate in Lattin, Co Tipperary, on January 17, 2010.

He also denies threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Sean Murphy and his partner, Paula Hassett, on dates in October and December 2009.

Mr Murphy died after he was stabbed by Higgins, who told gardaí he had armed himself with an ornamental dagger to defend himself and his family after he and Mr Murphy clashed outside their homes.

Higgins claimed Mr Murphy came at him armed with a plank when both men arrived back at the estate at the same time, having been in separate pubs in Tipperary and Lattin.

Higgins claimed Mr Murphy started abusing him.

Ms Hassett, however, said Higgins started the abuse.

Det Garda Dan Quinlan said that Higgins, after his arrest, had two fresh welts to his back and complained of soreness.

When questioned, Higgins said he had gone into his house and got a knife after the deceased attacked him with a plank. Higgins said the deceased struck him several times with the plank.

Det Garda Kevin O’Keeffe said that, in another interview, Higgins said he had left the Top House pub in Lattin next to his house at around 9pm on January 17. He said Mr Murphy arrived back at his house in a car driven by Ms Hassett.

Higgins told gardaí that Mr Murphy started to abuse him and came at him with a plank of wood.

Higgins said he ran into his house and got a knife. He said he was struck four or five times in the back with the plank and swung out once with the knife.

He went back into his house and thought that was the end of the matter, and did not realise he had struck Mr Murphy until an ambulance and the gardaí arrived.

Higgins told gardaí: “If I had come out of the pub earlier or later I would not probably be sitting her now — I went out to frighten him and did not expect it to go the way it went.”

Both had been drinking in separate pubs during that day and Higgins said he had been more sober than Mr Murphy.

In relation to an interview with Det Garda O’Keeffe during which it was alleged he said after the stabbing: “I told you I would get you,” Higgins replied it was possible he had said that, but that he did not think he had.