Man on murder charge pleads guilty to manslaughter

A man being tried for the murder of an elderly man in a psychiatric unit in Co Cavan has changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter.

Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, Co Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Michael Treanor, 82, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital, Lisdarn, Co Cavan, on June 27, 2011.

The trial was in its closing stages, but yesterday Harman was rearraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.