A man has been found guilty of murdering his uncle in Co. Clare.
Thomas Lorigan, of no fixed abode, had denied the murder of 79-year-old John O’Neill, who was found dead in his home in Lisdoonvarna two years ago.
John O’Neill lived alone on St Brendan’s Road in Lisdoonvarna.
On the morning of the 7th of January 2022, the 79yo’s body was found on the floor of his home by Gardai.
They were responding to a call from another local man called Walter Burke. He had been drinking the previous day with Mr O’Neill’s nephew, Thomas Lorigan.
Mr Burke became concerned when Lorigan repeatedly told him about a row he had with his uncle.
He died from severe blunt force trauma to the head, mainly to his face.
CCTV footage was shown to the jury, which the prosecution claimed showed Lorigan kicking Mr O’Neill on the ground outside his home in what was described as a “ferocious and vicious assault” before dragging his uncle into the house.
The defence raised issues about the identification of their client in that footage, but in the end, the jury found the 34yo guilty of murdering his uncle and he’ll be handed a life sentence for it later this month.
