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. 6512Murder · Co. Clare

Man sentenced to mandatory life term for murder of uncle in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

John O'Neill, a 78-year-old widower who lived alone, was kicked and stamped to death by his nephew, Thomas Lorigan, aged 34, at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, between 6 and 7 January 2022. Lorigan went into custody on 8 January 2022. A jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously found him guilty of murder. In February 2024 he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to 8 January 2022, after three victim impact statements were read to the court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim, John O'Neill, a 78-year-old widower, was kicked and stamped to death by his nephew.
  • The accused is Thomas Lorigan, a 34-year-old man.
Where
The killing happened at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare.
When
  • The murder happened between 6 and 7 January 2022.
  • The sentencing was reported on 19 February 2024.
Cause
CCTV footage showed the accused delivering kicks and stamps to the victim's head and neck.
Weapon
The accused was wearing steel-capped boots during the attack.
Investigation
The court viewed CCTV footage of the attack during the trial.
Other details
  • The victim lived alone.
  • There was no known motive for the murder.
  • The accused had two previous convictions.
  • The accused went into custody on 8 January 2022.
In court
  • The accused was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of murdering the victim at the Central Criminal Court.
  • Three victim impact statements were read to the court.
Sentence
  • The accused was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.
  • The sentence was backdated to 8 January 2022.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim, a 78-year-old widower, was kicked and stamped to death by his nephew. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV showed the accused delivering kicks and stamps to the victim's head and neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder happened on a date between 6 and 7 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe accused was wearing steel-capped boots during the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe court viewed CCTV footage of the attack during the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of murdering the victim. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThree victim impact statements were read to the court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe accused was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 8 January 2022, when the accused went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused had two previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThere was no known motive for the murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim lived alone. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (34) given mandatory life term for murdering his uncle in ‘vicious’ Co Clare assault

    Reports the sentencing of Thomas Lorigan to mandatory life imprisonment after a unanimous jury verdict, with victim impact statements from the family.

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