in 1166, lorcán's brother-in-law diarmait was deposed as king of leinster by an alliance of irish kings and princes, led by high king ruaidrí ua conchobair (rory o'connor) and king tigernán ua ruairc (tiernan o'rourke) of breifne. diarmait had in 1152 abducted dervorguilla, ua ruairc's wife and on the death of diarmait's protector, high king muirchertach mac lochlainn in 1166, he paid the price. exiled and with only a half-hearted promise of help from henry ii of england, after much wandering in wales, england and france, he returned to ireland with a group of penniless and down-on-their-luck norman, flemish and welsh allies to help him regain his kingdom.