Clare woman (32) to enter guilty plea to dangerous driving causing death of school teacher

Gordon Deegan

A 32-year-old Co Clare woman is to plead guilty to the dangerous driving causing the death of ‘inspirational’ school teacher, Michael Lorigan (70), a court was told on Wednesday.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, the Book of Evidence was served in the case where Saoirse Lillis McMahon of Moveen East, Kilkee, is charged with the dangerous driving causing the death of cyclist, Michael Lorigan, on August 16th, 2023, on the N67 at Baunmore, Kilkee in west Clare contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act.

The fatal road traffic incident occurred at around 12.30pm on the day.

Judge Alec Gabbett told solicitor John Casey for Ms Lillis McMahon today, “my understanding is that there is a guilty plea to the charge and it has the same effect as going forward to the circuit court on a signed plea”.

Mr Casey agreed after having told the court previously that Ms Lillis McMahon could not go forward on a signed guilty plea because of a technical issue and that a Book of Evidence had to be compiled for the case.

Relatives of the late Mr Lorigan were in court today for the brief hearing, and Judge Gabbett told Ms Lillis McMahon that he was required to give her the alibi warning “though I don’t believe that it applies in this case”.

Judge Gabbett said that he would return Ms Lillis McMahon for trial to the current sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

Mr Casey asked that the legal certificate be extended to cover one senior counsel and one junior counsel in the circuit court “due to the seriousness of the charge”.

Judge Gabbett replied, “I agree,” and acceded to the application.

Mr Casey said that it is unlikely that the case will be dealt with in the current sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

Ms Lillis McMahon is also charged with driving her 02-CE registered vehicle at the same location on the same date while being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle.

Ms Lillis McMahon also faces a charge of driving a defective vehicle, which was a danger to the public at the same location on the same date, contrary to section 54(1) & (4) Road Traffic Act.

Mr Casey said that there is only one charge in the Book of Evidence and that the other summons can track the circuit court case in the district court.

Mr Casey said that there are five other summons against Ms Lillis McMahon, and Judge Gabbett adjourned all of those matters to Ennis District Court to April 2026.

Originally from Benvoran, Kilmurry McMahon, Co Clare, and living in Kilkishen in east Clare at the time of his death, Mr Lorigan taught for a number of decades at the Model School in Limerick city.

Mr Lorigan taught there from the mid-1970s until his retirement and was remembered as an inspirational, kind, patient, dedicated and wonderful teacher in the many tributes from former students at the time of his death in August 2023.

In later years, Mr Lorigan became a keen cyclist and took part in the Clare 250-mile cycle many times.