Tipperary murder trial: Jury begin deliberations over death of 80-year-old

Seán Harding initially denied being present at the deceased man’s property at any time but later said he was burgling shed and stealing tools when the homeowner arrived

Teddy Murnane: Jury urged by prosecution to consider the age difference at the time of the encounter between the defendant and the deceased.

The jury of seven women and five men in the Tipperary murder trial commenced their deliberations on Thursday morning.

Seán Harding, aged 32, of Marian Terrace, Tipperary Town, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 80-year-old Timothy (Teddy) Murnane at St. Michael’s Avenue in Tipperary town on September 12, 2025.

However, when pleading not guilty to the murder charge, he said he was guilty of manslaughter.

The trial is in its seventh day. 

The jury heard that when he was interviewed by gardaí, Mr Harding initially denied being present at the deceased man’s property at any time.

However, in later interviews, Mr Harding said he was burgling the shed and stealing tools when the homeowner arrived at the shed. 

He said he burst past him, knocking him over. 

In one of the later interviews he said: “I am after killing someone, I didn’t mean it.” 

He admitted three charges related to burglary on the occasion.

Karl Finnegan, prosecuting, said intention was the issue in this case, particularly where the accused had already admitted the unlawful killing, by pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Finnegan invited the jury to consider the defensive injuries on Mr Murnane's arms and the age difference at the time of the encounter between the defendant and the deceased.

 He also asked them to consider facial injuries, which the pathologist found to be consistent with being struck by a fist or an object with a flat surface.

Dean Kelly, for Mr Harding, said of his client: “His conduct was low, vile, and squalid. 

"He was creeping around his neighbourhood, 150m from his own home, bent on stealing possessions bought through the hard work of his neighbours. 

"But that unappealing description does not make him a murderer… He is a murderer only if you decide he intended to murder him or cause him serious injury.”