Man accused of Tipperary pensioner murder told gardaí 'I never set out to harm anyone'

Jurors were shown video of gardaí interviewing the defendant Seán Harding today

Teddy Murnane was still alive in hospital at the time of the garda interview of the defendant.

The man accused of murdering a Tipperary pensioner during a burglary broke down in tears as he told investigating gardaí: “I never set out to harm anyone.” 

Video of this interview with 32-year-old Seán Harding of Marian Terrace, Tipperary Town, was shown to Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and the jury of seven women and five men at the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Monday.

Seán Harding denies murder but accepted that he unlawfully killed the 80-year-old, pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Teddy Murnane at St. Michael’s Avenue in Tipperary town on September 12, 2025. Seán Harding also admitted three charges related to burglary on the occasion.

He was arrested shortly after the incident in September last year and there were a series of interviews. 

Video recording was shown in court today where Detective Garda Conor Gleeson and Detective Garda Diarmuid Bourke interviewed Seán Harding, as they asked him to give his account of what happened in the shed at the side of Mr Murnane’s home. The deceased was still alive in hospital at the time of the garda interview.

The accused said: “I heard someone at the door. I pushed hard at him to escape, that’s what happened. I never set out to harm anyone or cause any harm to anyone. 

"I went in to see if I could get a few tools. I was in the middle of putting them in the bag when I heard someone at the door and I barged past him and I legged it. I just wanted to get away.” 

He confirmed that CCTV from a neighbouring house showing a man approaching the Murnane house while carrying a black holdall was him.

Seán Harding said: “I was looking for tools. I was going around with the bag getting the tools. I heard someone at the door. I got a fright. It happened so fast. 

"I was right behind the door when I heard the noise. I barged straight through and he hopped off the ground. I kept running. He was coming in the door.”

Asked how he got into the shed in the first place, he said: “I pushed the door, I shouldered it. I closed the door after I went in. He was coming in the door, I just rushed past him. I pushed him with a shove, as best I can recall.” 

“Where did you push him?” he was asked, and he replied that he was not too sure but thought it was around the chest area and that Mr Murnane fell back.

The detectives told the defendant that Mr Murnane was on life support in University Hospital Limerick. Asked if anything was said during the incident, he said: “No. I don’t know (if Mr Murnane said anything), it just happened so fast.” 

“Did you hit him?” he was asked. He replied: “I pushed him but I didn’t hit him.” 

At another point, Seán Harding asked the detectives: “What is going to happen? I’m f***ed.” One of the detectives said: “It’s not your form to hit people.” He agreed that it wasn’t his form.

Asked if he had anything to say to the Murnane family, he said: “I am sorry, I hope he is OK… I just saw an opportunity to get tools for drugs.” 

The trial continues.