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. 6727Murder · Co. Clare

Man on trial for murder of 79-year-old in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

Thomas Lorigan (34), of no fixed abode, is charged with murdering his uncle John O'Neill (79), a widower, at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, between 6 and 7 January 2022. Gardaí were called on the morning of 7 January 2022 and found the victim's body on his kitchen floor. Gardaí arrested Lorigan at the home of a witness, Walter Burke, and on Monday 15 January 2024 he was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty. The trial opened on Wednesday 17 January 2024 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, and as of Friday 19 January 2024 evidence was still being heard, with the trial expected to last up to four weeks.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jan
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Thomas Lorigan (34), of no fixed abode, is charged with murdering John O'Neill (79), a widower.
Where
The alleged murder took place at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, where the victim lived and ran a bed and breakfast with his wife until mid-2021.
When
  • The alleged offence took place between 6 and 7 January 2022.
  • Gardaí were called on the morning of 7 January 2022 to check on the victim's welfare, and emergency services were dispatched to the house at 8.10am.
Other details
  • Lorigan is the son of the victim's sister, and was living in or about Lisdoonvarna at the time of the alleged offence; a judge told the jury panel he was a native of Lucan, Co Dublin, until his late teens.
  • A witness says Lorigan told him he had a row with his uncle the night before the body was found, and the defence put it to a witness that Lorigan would say he never wore the jeans or boots found at the house.
Investigation
  • A garda witness found the victim's body on his kitchen floor, and said he had been severely beaten and was unrecognisable.
  • CCTV is said to show two people talking outside the victim's home at 9.20pm on the night in question.
  • Gardaí found a pair of boots behind an armchair and a pair of jeans at the house, and a sergeant took a swab from a small splatter of blood; a garda witness said there appeared to be blood on the boots.
  • A garda found a set of dentures with blood on them on the footpath, and gardaí arrested Lorigan at the home of witness Walter Burke.
Cause
  • A State pathologist found severe blunt force trauma to the victim's head, mainly in the facial area.
  • The State says Lorigan repeatedly kicked the victim in the head, and that the jury will have no difficulty finding an intention to kill or cause serious injury.
Weapon
The State says Lorigan wore steel-capped boots during the alleged kicking.
In court
  • Lorigan was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on Monday 15 January 2024 and pleaded not guilty.
  • The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women, with Eilis Brennan SC leading the prosecution and Michael Bowman SC heading the defence.
40 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThomas Lorigan is charged with murdering John O'Neill, 79. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA 79-year-old widower died after a vicious attack by his nephew. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was a 79-year-old widower. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA garda witness found the victim's body on his kitchen floor and said he had been severely beaten. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged murder took place at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged murder took place between January 6th and 7th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenEmergency services were dispatched to the victim's house at 8.10am on 7 January. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing is alleged to have happened between January 6th and 7th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe accused was said to have stayed at the house the night before the body was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe State says the nephew repeatedly kicked the victim to the head while wearing steel capped boots. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution says the jury will have no difficulty finding an intention to kill or cause serious injury. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA State pathologist found severe blunt force trauma to the victim's head, mainly in the facial area. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution alleges the victim died after a vicious attack by his nephew, Thomas Lorigan. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution submits the accused repeatedly kicked the victim in the head while wearing steel-capped boots. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution alleges the victim was repeatedly kicked to the head while the accused wore steel-capped boots. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationCCTV is said to show two people talking outside the victim's residence at 9.20pm on the night in question. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrested Thomas Lorigan at the home of witness Walter Burke. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA garda was called on the morning of January 7th to check the welfare of the owner of O'Neills B&B. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found the victim lifeless and severely beaten inside the house. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA garda found a set of dentures with blood on them on the footpath. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found a pair of boots behind an armchair inside a patio door at a house in Lisdoonvarna. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA garda witness said there appeared to be blood on the boots. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA sergeant seized the boots and a pair of jeans and took a swab from a small splatter of blood. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty to murdering John O’Neill between January 6th and 7th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty to murdering John O'Neill. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThomas Lorigan has pleaded not guilty to murdering John O’Neill. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThomas Lorigan, 34, of no fixed abode, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on a Monday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is due to begin on Wednesday morning and is expected to last up to four weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last up to four weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEilis Brennan SC leads the prosecution and Michael Bowman SC heads the defence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThomas Lorigan was at the time of the alleged offence living in or about the Lisdoonvarna area in Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe deceased man lived at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, where he and his wife ran a bed and breakfast until mid-2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThomas Lorigan was the nephew of the deceased, the son of the victim's sister. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA witness says the accused told him he had a row with his uncle the night before the body was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence put it to a witness that the accused would say he never wore a pair of jeans or boots found at the house. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jan2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Gardaí recovered bloodied boots from house where murder accused was said to have stayed, trial hears

    Trial report from the Central Criminal Court. Gardaí seized boots and jeans from a house, and the prosecution case and the accused's relationship to the victim are described. No matching existing case.

    accused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Loriganvictim, John O'Neill, 79, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill
  2. 18 Jan2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda witness tells murder trial of moment she found ‘severely beaten’ body of 79-year-old widower

    Report on day of trial evidence: a garda witness describes finding the body and a witness describes conversations with the accused. The trial is ongoing and the accused has pleaded not guilty.

    victim, John O'Neill, 79, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neillaccused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Lorigan
  3. 17 Jan2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Widower (79) died after vicious attack by his nephew, murder trial hears

    Original report of the murder trial opening at the Central Criminal Court. It sets out the prosecution's account of the alleged attack and the evidence expected, and records the accused's not guilty plea.

    accused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Loriganvictim, John O'Neill, 79, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill
  4. 15 Jan2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man pleads not guilty to murdering Co Clare pensioner two years ago

    First report of the case. Covers the arraignment, the not guilty plea, the jury being sworn in and the expected length of the trial.

    accused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Loriganvictim, John O'Neill, 79, male, irish (judged from name)John O'Neill