Trial to get underway of man accused of murdering Clare pensioner

A man accused of murdering a pensioner in Co. Clare two years ago is due to go on trial this Wednesday.

Thomas Lorigan, aged 34, of no fixed abode pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court earlier this week.

He is charged with murdering John O'Neill (79) at St Brendan’s Road, Lisdoonvarna on a date unknown between January 6 and 7, 2022. 

When the registrar read the indictment to the accused man and asked him how he was pleading, he replied: "Not guilty".

The prosecution case is being led by senior counsel Eilis Brennan, while Michael Bowman SC is heading up the defence team. 

Addressing the jury panel, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said Mr Lorigan was a native of Lucan in Dublin until his late teens and that he had resided at the time of the alleged offence in or about the Lisdoonvarna area in Co Clare. 

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The judge said the deceased, Mr O'Neill, lived at St Brendan's Road in Lisdoonvarna, where he and his wife operated a bed and breakfast business until mid-2021. 

He said all the witnesses in the trial were from Co Clare and the south Galway area. 

Mr Justice McDermott swore in a jury of five men and seven women to hear the trial, which will is expected to last up to four weeks.