Thursday 29 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. 6629Murder · Co. Clare

Man found guilty of murdering uncle in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

John O'Neill, a 78-year-old widower, was attacked outside his home at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, on a date unknown between 6 and 7 January 2022. His nephew, Thomas Lorigan, a 34-year-old man of no fixed abode, was charged with his murder at a special sitting of Ennis Court and pleaded not guilty. On 1 February 2024 a jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously found Lorigan guilty of murder. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 19 February.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted1 Feb
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A Central Criminal Court jury found Thomas Lorigan guilty of murdering his uncle, John O'Neill, by stamping on him.
Where
The victim was attacked outside his home at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare.
When
The murder occurred on a date unknown between 6 and 7 January 2022.
Weapon
The attacker was wearing steel-capped boots.
Investigation
  • CCTV footage shows the accused delivering kicks and stamps to the victim as he lay on the ground.
  • Gardaí recovered bloodied boots from a house in Lisdoonvarna where the accused had stayed.
Charges
Thomas Lorigan was charged with the murder of John O'Neill at a special sitting of Ennis Court.
In court
  • Lorigan pleaded not guilty to murder.
  • The jury returned a unanimous verdict after six and a half hours of deliberation over three days.
Sentence
The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 19 February.
Other details
  • A garda witness said the victim was severely beaten and unrecognisable.
  • Sources give the victim's age as 78, while the prosecution said he was 79 at the time of his death.
  • Lorigan is the victim's nephew; the victim was a widower who lived alone after his wife died in 2021.
  • No motive is known, though prosecutors said no cash was taken and family photos were smashed, suggesting the killing was personal.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA jury unanimously found Thomas Lorigan guilty of murdering his 78-year-old uncle by stamping on him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe victim was attacked outside his home in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing took place at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder occurred on a date unknown between 6 and 7 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe attacker wore steel-capped boots. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe attacker was wearing steel-capped boots. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV caught the accused delivering kicks to the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage shows the accused delivering kicks and stamps to the victim. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí recovered bloodied boots from a house in Lisdoonvarna where the accused had stayed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA Central Criminal Court jury found a nephew guilty of murdering his uncle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused had pleaded not guilty to murder. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury returned a unanimous verdict after six and a half hours of deliberations over three days. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 19 February. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA garda witness said the victim was severely beaten and unrecognisable. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused was the victim's nephew. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim lived alone after his wife died in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said the victim was 79 at the time of his death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo motive for the murder was known. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Feb2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man found guilty of murdering uncle (78) by stamping on his head with steel-capped boots

    Jury verdict of guilty of murder at the Central Criminal Court; sentencing set for 19 February. The article describes the evidence (CCTV, boots, DNA) and that no motive was known.

    convicted, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Loriganvictim, John O'Neill, 78, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill
  2. 1 Feb2024
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Nephew guilty of murdering uncle by stamping him to death outside Clare home

    Reports the jury verdict of guilty in the trial of Thomas Lorigan for the murder of John O'Neill. Sentencing is not mentioned.

    convicted, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Loriganvictim, John O'Neill, 78, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill