A 32-year old man told Gardaí that he felt in danger moments before punching a man outside a bar in Longford causing fatal injuries.
Closing speeches are being made in the manslaughter trial of Gerard Melia, Derrygowna, Lanesboro, who has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Noel McGann on August 1st 2019 at a pub car park in Foigha, Longford.
Day three of the trial heard details of a second interview Gardaí carried out with the accused following his arrest.
The court heard that Mr Melia claimed the deceased would sometimes "sneer" or pass remarks about him.
However he told Gardaí that no remarks were ever made directly to him, and that most of the interactions were by "eye contact" and that he was not "making it up".
The trial previously heard details of a phone call made to a friend of Mr Melia by the 50-year-old where he said he simply didn't like the panel beater.
The accused, when asked why he had invited Mr McGann outside the pub, he said that he had no reason to hate the 50 year old but wanted to know why the deceased was talking about him.
He told Gardaí that during their conversation outside, the dead man allegedly said that he would "kick" the accused "up and down the car park.
He said he felt he had to hit the 50-year-old as he thought the deceased was "coming" for him.
The trial continues in front of a jury of ten in Mullingar.
