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. 3127Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Clare · 16 Aug 2023

Drunk driver jailed for killing cyclist in Kilkee, Co Clare

Saoirse Lillis McMahon, 33, was sentenced to four years in prison at Ennis Circuit Court for dangerous driving causing the death of teacher Michael Lorigan, 70, on the N67 at Baunmore, Kilkee, Co Clare, on 16 August 2023. She was driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs including cocaine, with her two young children in the car.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLillis McMahon had her two young children with her and an open bottle of wine on the passenger seat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMichael Lorigan was a 70-year-old teacher. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLorigan was coming toward the end of a 55-mile cycle and was five miles from meeting his wife in Kilkee. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple planned to celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary in Kilkee. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe same motorist phoned gardaí again to say she had witnessed the blue Vauxhall Astra crash into a cyclist. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRoad conditions were good on the day and the impact occurred on a long straight stretch of road. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLorigan was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLorigan spent his entire teaching career in The Modh Scoil in Limerick and lived in Kilkishen, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe crash occurred on the N67 at Baunmore, Kilkee, west Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe crash occurred on 16 August 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA postmortem found Lorigan died from blunt force injuries to the neck and head. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationLocal gardaí received a call from a motorist about a car driving erratically on the N67 ten minutes after Dympna passed Michael. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationLillis McMahon failed a test for alcohol, showing 93mg per 100ml of urine against a legal limit of 67mg. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Ennis Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Francis Comerford imposed a five-year prison term, suspending the final six months, on Lillis McMahon. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceA seven-year driving ban was imposed on Lillis McMahon. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final six months were suspended on condition that Lillis McMahon co-operate with the Probation Service. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLillis McMahon expressed remorse at a Garda interview. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLillis McMahon has lost custody of her children, lost her job, and lives in isolation from her community. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLillis McMahon had a history of mental health difficulties. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 May2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Drunk driver who killed cyclist while her two children were in car jailed for four years

    Sentencing at Ennis Circuit Court: five-year term with six months suspended, seven-year driving ban, guilty plea, four victim impact statements read out, judge noted danger to her two children in the car.

    victim, Michael Lorigan, 70, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Loriganconvicted, Saoirse Lillis McMahon, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Saoirse Lillis McMahonvictim, Dympna, female, irish (judged from name)Dympnavictim, 6, malevictim, 9, male