Tag Archives: murder

The niece of a 78-year-old widower has told the Central Criminal Court that her family have experienced a raw, pervasive fear “stemming from the chilling reality of evil so close to home”. The testimony was heard as part of three emotional victim impact statements read today to the Central Criminal Court, where 34-year-old Thomas Lorigan was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering his uncle Mr O’Neill. The sentence was backdated to January 8 2022, when he went into custody. Niamh Higgins, niece of Mr O’Neill, told the Central Criminal Court today that the “cruel loss” of her uncle to this “heinous murder has plunged us into a whirlwind of raw feelings”. She added: “Feelings we find ourselves wholly unprepared for – overwhelming grief, despair, trauma, including a pervasive fear stemming from the chilling reality of evil so close to home”. Ms Higgins said that to think of the injuries “being inflicted by a stranger” would be …

THERE is still a sense of shock in Ennistymon today, following the murder of 87 year old Thomas O’Halloran in London. On Thursday morning, Senator Martin Conway said, “The community of Ennistymon, the people I’ve spoken to in the last number of hours, are just bewildered. They’re so shocked, they can’t make sense of it, all they want to do is reach out to the family and support them in whatever way they can during this difficult period.” Two of Mr O’Halloran’s brothers still live in the North Clare area, along with a number of other relations, and Senator Conway said the family wish to have their privacy respected at this time. “His children and grandchildren in the UK are dealing with this as well and they are also in our thoughts. The O’Halloran family are a large family, Thomas had a number of siblings who are sadly no longer with us, but there are a lot of nieces and …

AN elderly Clare man has been stabbed to death while on his mobility scooter in London in what has been described by investigating police as “a shocking act of unprovoked violence”. Thomas O’Halloran, an 87-year-old grandfather was living in the Greenford area of west London but was originally from Ennistymon where he still has a large number of family. The community of Ennistymon have been rallying around the O’Halloran family at this tragic time local Senator Martin Conway has said. Mr O’Halloran was a popular figure in Greenford where he was well known for entertaining locals with his accordion and on the day of his killing it is understood he had been busking to raise money for charity. Police were called just after 4pm on Tuesday to Runnymede Gardens, at the junction with Cayton Road, Greenford to reports of a man with stab wounds. Officers responded and gave emergency first aid until the arrival of the London Ambulance Service and …

THE killing of North Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin will feature in the next episode of Marú Inár Measc at 9.30 on Wednesday, May 25, on TG4. Marú Inár Measc is a true crime documentary series, which shines a light on the effect that fatal crimes have on society, local communities and on the victim’s families as they are left without answers. A talented artist, Emer was killed on April 8, 2005. Her body was subsequently found in the burnt out remains of her neighbour John Griffin’s mobile home. Shortly after her death, Griffin, who had a history of violence and drug abuse, was found on Inis Mór, having barricaded himself inside Dún Aengus fort. He was eventually persuaded by Gardai to come out, and taken to Ballinasloe for psychiatric care. However, he was allowed to sign himself out of hospital after five days and his whereabouts now is unknown. After leaving hospital, and now shorn of his distinctive dreadlocks and …

WORK has finished on a new documentary on the death of North Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin, which will be broadcast on TG4 in May. A talented artist, Emer was 23 years of age when her body was discovered in a burnt out mobile home at Ballybornagh, Tubber on April 8, 2005. Subsequent forensic tests showed that she was murdered. Seventeen years on there still has not been a conviction. A man named John Griffin, who lived close to Emer and her partner, is someone that Gardai wish to speak to about the matter. Following an incident on Inis Mór shortly after her death, he was taken into custody by Gardai, and subsequently brought into psychiatric care in Ballinasloe. However, he was allowed to leave a few days later, went back to the Aran Islands and is thought to have attempted to fake his own death there. He is subsequently known to have travelled from London to Germany. Gardai believe he …

AN online vigil in memory of Ashling Murphy will take place from Shannon on this Thursday evening. While it is being held in a church, it is not a religious event, said Ann McMahon, who has been involved in its organisation. “It’s a vigil event, that will be non-religious in memory of Ashling Murphy. It’ll be largely an online event, but it’ll take place in Ss John & Paul Church at 8pm on Thursday. “There will be some invited guests, but with Covid restrictions and erring on the side of caution. It’ll be on the Shannon parish website and also the Shannon parish Facebook page, it’ll be livestreamed there.” There will be speakers and traditional music on the night, and Ann feels last week’s tragedy may provoke change in society. “This very sad and tragic event has evoked very strong feelings in a lot of people. It is perhaps a pinch point in our reflections as a community about violence …

AN ANTIQUE piece of furniture linked to a man who conspired, along with the legendary wisewoman Biddy Early, in a notorious East Clare murder is to go on display in Kilkishen next month. The blanket box, a large wooden chest, belonged to a James Mac Namara who was accused, along with the husband of the legendary Feakle healer, of murdering their landlord. The item, which was salvaged by local Kilkishen historian Cathal O’Hagan, has been carefully restored and will go on display at the Kilkishen Cultural Centre. “I think it’s fitting on the 161st anniversary of the murder that people would be able to see this,” Mr O’Hagan said. “According to lore, this historic blanket box came out of the farmhouse of James Mac Namara who one night in October 1860 with Biddy Early’s husband Tom Flannery and three other evicted tenants and, with help from Biddy, killed the landlord.” Legend has it that Biddy, who foretold Mr Sheehy’s demise …

A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Ennis. Patrick Ballard, with an address at Ashford Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court today (March 24). He is charged with the murder of mother of two, Sharon Bennett (29). Ballard was previously charged with assault causing harm to Ms Bennett in the Market area of Ennis on January 28. That charge was today withdrawn and struck out. The accused was remanded in custody to appear at Gort district court tomorrow. The issue of bail was not raised in court as the district court does not have jurisdiction to deal with a bail application on a murder charge. Sharon Bennett, a native of Wexford, died at University Hospital Limerick on February 10, thirteen days after she was admitted. In court today, detective Garda Noelle Bergin of Ennis Garda Station said she arrested Ballard for the purpose of charge at Ennis Courthouse at 10.29am At 10.30am, the court …