Next-door neighbour murder trial nears end

THE prosecution’s case against a man, accused of the murder of his next-door neighbour, concluded yesterday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick.

The accused Richard Higgins, aged 42, of 1, New Houses, Lattin, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his next-door neighbour, Sean Murphy, aged 29, on January 17, 2010.

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

The accused claimed Mr Murphy came at him armed with a plank when both arrived back into the housing estate at the same time, after being in different pubs in Tipperary and Lattin that day.

Higgins claimed Murphy started abusing him.

Mr Murphy’s partner, Paula Hassett, said Higgins started the abuse.

The jury heard relations began to deteriorate some time in 2007 after Higgins’ partner, Emma Butler, went to her neighbours at No 2, complaining their children had been behaving inappropriately.

Billy Twomey, in evidence yesterday, said he had been drinking in the Village Tavern in Lattin on January 17 last year where the accused had also been drinking.

The witness said he was talking with another person outside the pub after he went out for a cigarette when Ms Hassett’s car passed and she droveinto the estate where they lived.

He saw Higgins walking towards the estate and he heard some shouting.

Mr Twomey said he remarked to the man he was talking to: “It’s going to kick off now.”

While in the pub, he said, Higgins was in good form and there were no cross words said.

Noreen Ahern, owner of the Village Tavern, said Higgins came into the pub some time between 2pm and 3pm and others joined him.

Higgins, she recalled, had about six cans of cider and was sober and in good form when he left.

Some time between 9.20pm and 9.40pm, a local woman came into the bar, crying, distressed andasked her to call an ambulance and the gardaí, which she did.

Garda Pat O’Connor gave evidence of finding the knife used by the accused lying between a hedge and a wall near the scene.

The accused, meanwhile, also denies threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Murphy and Ms Hassett on dates in October and December, 2009.