A man accused of the murder of a widow in Co Cork last year has told the Central Criminal Court her death was all his fault, but it was never his intention to kill her.
Oliver Hayes, aged 49, of Clancool Terrace, in Bandon admits the manslaughter of 60-year-old Anne Corcoran but denies murder.
The court heard he had debts of almost €30,000 when Mrs Corcoran died. He said he went to her house to get money.
When she returned to the house at around 5.30pm, he came up behind her, put his hand over her mouth and pushed her into a bathroom.
He tied her hands with a washing line he had brought with him and asked her for money.
She said she did not keep money in the house but refused to give him her bank card and pin number as she said he would clean out her account.
He said it was not the way he had planned it. He thought it was going to be a simple thing, but that it did not work out like that.
He said he put her in to the boot of her car and drove away with her to frighten her.
Mr Hayes told the court that Mrs Corcoran managed to get out of the boot and into the back of the car; he said she put her hands over his eyes and hat to jam on the brakes.
He stopped several times to ask her for her bank card and pin number but she again refused to give it to him. He then decided to take her to his house.
Hayes pushed Mrs Corcoran upstairs into a room and tied her up with electrical cable. He said he gagged her and left her in the room to frighten her.
When she gave him her number and told him where the card was he said decided to knock her out so she wouldn't be able to escape and raise the alarm.
He said he hit her three times ‘easy’ as he didn't want to hurt her. He then picked up another piece of timber and hit her twice, the second time she fell over.
Later that night he heard her snoring he said. He said he was exhausted so he fell asleep. When he checked her the next morning she was dead.
Mr Hayes said this was a bit of a shock. It was something he never expected to happen. He told the court it should never have happened. He said he was sorry.
He said he couldn't change what had happened and wished he could. He said Mrs Corcoran's death was all his fault, but it was never his intention to kill the woman.
He will be cross-examined tomorrow.
