A 32-year old man charged with the murder of Lisdoonvarna pensioner, John (Jack) O’Neill was on Wednesday returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court.
At Ennis District Court, the Book of Evidence in the case against Thomas Lorigan of no fixed abode was served.
Formerly of Ennistymon, Mr Lorigan is charged with the murder of grand-father, Mr O’Neill (79) at St Brendan’s Rd, Lisdoonvarna at an unknown time on the 6th/7th of January.
When arrested and charged on January 8th with the alleged murder, Mr Lorigan said ‘no comment’. Mr Lorigan wore a white face mask in court and was flanked by two prison officers for the hearing.
Mr Lorigan secured bail in the High Court on March 3rd but has been unable to meet bail conditions set down by the High Court and remains on remand in custody.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan said that the State application was to return Mr Lorigan for trial to the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
In court on Wednesday, Mr Lorigan also spoke ‘yes’ when given the alibi warning by Judge Colm Roberts.
Judge Roberts told Mr Lorigan that if an alibi formed any party of his defence he had 14 days in which to provide details to the State.
Solicitor for Mr Lorigan, Darragh Hassett said that given the gravity of the charge, he would be applying for the legal aid certificate to be extended to cover a senior counsel and a junior counsel to also represent Mr Lorgian in the Central Criminal Court.
The deceased in the case, father-of-two John O’Neill had only recently lost his wife, Christine and ran a B&B in Lisdoonvarna.
