Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4309Murder · Co. Tipperary · 12 Sep 2025

Murder trial opens for Sean Harding over death of Timothy Murnane in Tipperary

Sean Harding, a 32-year-old man from Tipperary town, is charged with the murder of 80-year-old Timothy 'Teddy' Murnane, who sustained multiple blows to the face and skull outside his home at Michaels Avenue in Tipperary town on 12 September 2025. Harding was arrested on 13 September 2025, and Murnane died at University Hospital Limerick on 14 September 2025. Harding pleaded guilty to three counts of theft but not guilty to murder, pleading guilty to manslaughter instead. The murder trial opened at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on 28 October 2026, presided over by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford, and is expected to last until 13 November 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Murnane sustained multiple blows to the face and skull outside his home, and Harding stole tools from a shed in the back garden on two occasions.
Where
The incident occurred at Michaels Avenue in Tipperary town.
When
The incident took place on 12 September 2025, and Murnane died at University Hospital Limerick on 14 September 2025.
Cause
Post mortem found death from complications arising from blunt force trauma to the head, with injuries from multiple hits to the head with a fist and an object with a flat surface.
Investigation
  • Murnane's wife found him seriously injured in the back garden bleeding from the ear, and first responders found him unresponsive with swelling and bruising around his eye.
  • A black bag found in the Murnane shed had Harding's DNA on its straps.
Charges
  • Sean Harding is charged with murder and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of manslaughter.
  • Harding pleaded guilty to three counts of theft at St Michael's Avenue.
In court
  • The trial opened at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on 28 October 2026, presided over by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford, with a jury of 7 women and 5 men.
  • The trial is expected to last until 13 November 2026.
Other details
Harding was arrested on 13 September 2025.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatVictim sustained multiple blows to the face and skull outside his home (rte.ie)
  • whatHarding stole tools from a shed in the back garden on two occasions (rte.ie)
  • whatMurnane's wife found him seriously injured in the back garden bleeding from the ear (rte.ie)
  • whatThe garage door was open, the light was on, and the garage contents were noticeably disturbed (rte.ie)
  • whatFirst responders found Murnane unresponsive with swelling and bruising around his eye and vomit on the ground (rte.ie)
  • whatDoctors recorded head injuries, low level consciousness, bleeding from the left ear, and multiple skull fractures (rte.ie)
  • whatPathologist found extensive swelling and bruising to face and head and multiple fractures on the back of his head (rte.ie)
  • whatBruising suggested defensive type injuries (rte.ie)
  • whatA black bag found in the Murnane shed had Harding's DNA on its straps (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Michaels Avenue in Tipperary town (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 12 September 2025 (rte.ie)
  • whenMurnane died at University Hospital Limerick on 14 September 2025 (rte.ie)
  • whenHarding was arrested on 13 September 2025 (rte.ie)
  • causePost mortem found death from complications arising from blunt force trauma to the head (rte.ie)
  • causeInjuries arose from multiple hits to the head with a fist and an object with a flat surface, and his fall to the ground (rte.ie)
  • chargeSean Harding is charged with murder (rte.ie)
  • chargeHarding pleaded guilty to three counts of theft at St Michael's Avenue (rte.ie)
  • chargeHarding pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of manslaughter (rte.ie)
  • courtThe trial is at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, presided over by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury consists of 7 women and 5 men (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Oct2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Murder trial hears victim was struck multiple times

    Trial opened with prosecution opening statement; Harding's DNA found on a black bag in the victim's shed; trial expected to last until 13 November 2026.

    victim, Timothy 'Teddy' Murnane, 80, male, irish (judged from name)Timothy 'Teddy' Murnaneaccused, Sean Harding, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Harding