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Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Irish Times
CCTV shows Tom Niland entering shop two hours before men allegedly broke into his home
A jury has viewed CCTV footage of 73-year-old Tom Niland walking into a shop about two hours before three men allegedly broke into his home and assaulted him, leaving him with injuries that caused his death 20 months later. Garda Niall McDonald told the court he created a montage from hours of footage downloaded from various CCTV systems in Sligo and Mayo following the assault on Mr Niland on January 18th, 2022. Garda McDonald described the movements of a white van travelling around Dromore West and Ballina that morning and afternoon. He said the van appeared to be a Vauxhall Vivaro and he noted distinctive characteristics, including a yellow number plate, writing on the side and a green stain on the roof. Just after 1.30pm, a van with those markings pulled into Casey's garage in Ballina. The garda identified the driver as Francis Harman (58), of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo, and the passenger as John Clarke (37), of Carrowkelly, Ballina. READ MORE Tony McGillicuddy, prosecuting, previously told the jury that the prosecution intends to prove that Mr Harman, Mr Clarke and the man on trial, John Irving (31), of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, assaulted Mr Niland later that evening, leaving him with fatal injuries. It is further alleged that they stole Mr Niland's wallet. At Casey's, Garda McDonald said Mr Clarke put fuel into the van before entering the shop. From footage inside the shop, said the garda, Mr Clarke can be seen attempting to buy cans of alcohol at the till, but then returning the cans to the off-licence section of the store. He said Mr Harman entered the shop and engaged with staff and the manager before driving off. At 4.35pm, said Garda McDonald, Mr Niland arrived at Feeney's Centra in Dromore West, about 7.5km from his home. Between 6pm and 7pm, the prosecution alleges, Mr Irving, Mr Harman and Mr Clarke broke through Mr Niland's door, assaulted him and left. Garda McDonald said that at 6.01pm a van similar to the one driven earlier by Mr Harman, with Mr Clarke in the passenger seat, did a U-turn at an agri-store and travelled towards Mr Niland's house. The van was not seen again on cameras further along the same road, said the garda. Mr Irving faces four charges in total. It is alleged that he unlawfully killed Mr Niland by assaulting him at the victim's home at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo, on January 18th, 2022. Mr Niland was admitted to hospital after neighbours discovered him crossing the N59 covered in blood and with his eyes swollen shut. A doctor has told the jury that Mr Niland suffered bleeding to the brain, a fracture to the orb of his right eye and multiple fractures to the ribs on the right side. Despite initially making progress in hospital, he deteriorated on January 26th and required a ventilator to breathe. He died on September 30th, 2023, aged 75. Mr Irving is accused of entering Mr Niland's home as a trespasser and causing him serious harm. He is further alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Mr Niland and to have falsely imprisoned him. Mr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
BreakingNews.ie
15 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Jury views CCTV footage of Tom Niland hours before alleged fatal assault
A jury has viewed CCTV footage showing 73-year-old Tom Niland walking into a shop near his house in Sligo about two hours before it is alleged three men broke into his home and assaulted him, leaving him with injuries that caused his death 20 months later. Gda Niall McDonald told Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, that he created a montage from hours of footage downloaded from various CCTV systems in Sligo and Mayo following the assault on Mr Niland on January 18th, 2022. Advertisement Gda McDonald described the movements of a white van travelling around Dromore West and Ballina that morning and afternoon. He said the van appeared to be a Vauxhall Vivaro and he pointed out distinctive characteristics, including a yellow number plate, writing on the side and a green stain on the roof. Just after 1.30pm, a van with those markings pulled into Casey's garage in Ballina. The garda identified the driver as Francis Harman (58) of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo, and the passenger as John Clarke (37) of Carrowkelly, Ballina. Advertisement Mr McGillicuddy previously told the jury that the prosecution intends to prove that Mr Harman, Mr Clarke and the man currently on trial, John Irving (31) of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, assaulted Mr Niland later that evening, leaving him with fatal injuries. It is further alleged that they stole Mr Niland's wallet. At Casey's, Gda McDonald said Mr Clarke put fuel into the van before entering the shop. From footage inside the shop, the garda said Mr Clarke can be seen attempting to buy cans of alcohol at the till, but then returning the cans to the off-licence section of the store. He said Mr Harman entered the shop and engaged with staff and the manager before leaving and driving off in the van. At 4.35pm, Gda McDonald said Mr Niland arrived at Feeney's Centra in Dromore West, about 7.5 kilometres from his home. He parked his car and went into the shop, stopping to speak to a man on the way in. Advertisement Between 6pm and 7pm, the prosecution alleges that Mr Irving, Mr Harman and Mr Clarke broke through Mr Niland's door, assaulted him and left. Gda McDonald said at 6.01pm, a van similar to the one driven earlier by Mr Harman with Mr Clarke in the passenger seat did a U-turn at an agri-store and travelled towards Mr Niland's house, which was nearby. The van was not seen again on cameras further along the same road, the garda said. Mr Irving faces four charges in total. It is alleged that he unlawfully killed Mr Niland at Mr Niland's home at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo by assaulting him on January 18th, 2022. Advertisement Mr Niland was admitted to hospital after neighbours discovered him crossing the N59 covered in blood and with his eyes swollen shut. A doctor has told the jury that Mr Niland suffered bleeding to the brain, a fracture to the orb of his right eye and multiple fractures to the ribs on the right side. Despite initially making progress in hospital, he deteriorated on January 26th and required a ventilator to breathe. He died on September 30th, 2023, aged 75. Mr Irving is accused of entering Mr Niland's home as a trespasser and causing him serious harm. He is further alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Mr Niland and to have falsely imprisoned him. Mr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Neighbours did not recognise Tom Niland due to injuries sustained in alleged home invasion
A man in his 70s was so badly beaten during an alleged home invasion in Co Sligo that his neighbours did not recognise him walking along the middle of the road covered in blood, a Central Criminal Court trial has heard. Anna and Fiona Calpin said they only realised it was Tom Niland when he spoke to say he had been 'robbed' by three men. A paramedic also told the court Mr Niland was 'crying blood' as a result of the multiple traumatic injuries he sustained to his face and skull. John Irving (31), of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, is on trial accused of breaking into Mr Niland's house along with Francis Harman (58), of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo, and John Clarke (37), of Carrowkelly, Ballina, on January 18th, 2022. READ MORE Mr Irving is alleged to have assaulted Mr Niland, leaving him with injuries that caused his death more than 20 months later, on September 30th, 2023. He was 75 when he died. Mr Irving is accused of unlawfully killing Mr Niland at his home at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo. He is also accused of entering the house as a trespasser and causing Mr Niland serious harm. He is further alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Mr Niland and to have falsely imprisoned him. Mr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Anna Calpin told Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, that she was walking around outside her home opposite Mr Niland's house with her daughter Fiona when they noticed cars slowing down on the road. They went to see what was happening and saw a man on the road. 'As we approached he was standing in the middle of the road with his hands out in front of him, he couldn't see anything and we didn't know who it was,' she said. 'When we got closer to him, the first thing we heard was, 'I was robbed', and then we realised it was Tom.' The witness said Mr Niland's face was 'totally distorted', his eyes were swollen and shut, and there was a lot of blood. She said he had a runner on one foot and a shoe on the other but neither was laced up. She recalled Mr Niland telling her his doorbell rang and when he opened the door, three men wearing masks appeared and pushed him into his hallway. He said they took his wallet, which contained €800 or €900. Ms Calpin brought Mr Niland into her home and called an ambulance and the Garda. Fiona Calpin said Mr Niland was 'unrecognisable' until he spoke. Anna Calpin's husband, David Calpin, said he was in his workshop when his daughter came in and said Mr Niland had been 'robbed and assaulted'. Mr Calpin went inside to his neighbour before going across to Mr Niland's house where he saw blood 'running down the glass of the front door', on the driveway and the road. A pair of tights or nylons lay on the driveway. He said he realised it was a crime scene so he left to wait for gardaí to come. George Williams, who works in the ambulance service in Co Sligo, told Mr McGillicuddy he went into the Calpin home and saw Mr Niland with a towel wrapped around his head. When Mr Williams removed the towel, he saw multiple injuries around Mr Niland's face, head and skull. He said Mr Niland's eyes were 'completely swollen shut and he had the appearance as if he was crying blood.' Given Mr Niland's age and the level of trauma, Mr Williams believed the injuries were potentially life threatening so he decided to immediately remove him to an ambulance. Dr Martin Caldwell told Mr McGillicuddy he was the emergency surgeon on duty at Sligo University Hospital when Mr Niland arrived. He said Mr Niland had suffered 'serious and life threatening injuries'. Scans revealed bleeding to the brain, a fracture to the floor of the orb of the right eye and multiple broken ribs on his right side, the court heard. Despite the brain injury, doctors decided it was not necessary to send him to the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for surgery. Between January 20th and January 26th, Mr Niland made progress and was able to sit on a chair. However, his condition deteriorated at that point and he became more drowsy. He required a ventilator to help him breathe and doctors decided to place him on life support in the intensive care unit. By early March, he had made no progress, Dr Caldwell said, and a consultant neurologist took over his care. Another witness, John Scott, told Mr McGillicuddy he was part of a group of kayakers who were heading out on Lough Easkey in Co Sligo four days after the assault on Mr Niland. As he was placing a kayak into the water, he said he noticed something unusually square under a couple of inches of water by the side of the lake. When he took it from the water he realised it was a wallet. He phoned a friend who is a garda and told him the name Tom Niland was on the ID inside the wallet. He said he did not know the significance of it at the time, but about one hour later, Garda Elaine McAndrew arrived at Lough Easkey and took possession of the wallet. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eight women and four men.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Trial opens into alleged killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland in Co Sligo
Gardaí discovered a glove containing the blood of pensioner Tom Niland and DNA that matched that of the man accused of his unlawful killing, a jury has heard. Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, on Thursday opened the trial of John Irving, who denies breaking into then 73-year-old Mr Niland's home in January 2022 with two other men and assaulting him, causing his death. Mr McGillicuddy told the jury how following the assault on Mr Niland, a kayaker at a nearby lake found a wallet containing the pensioner's identification. When gardaí searched the area, they found gloves. Forensic scientists discovered DNA in one of the gloves that matched two men whom the prosecution say carried out the assault with Mr Irving – John Clarke and Francis Harman. DNA from blood on the outside of that glove matched Mr Niland, Mr McGillicuddy said. READ MORE He said another glove found at the same location contained Mr Irving's DNA inside and Mr Niland's blood on the outside. Mr McGillicuddy said it was the State's case that Mr Irving (31) of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, broke into Mr Niland's house with Francis Harman (58) of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo, and John Clarke (37) of Carrowkelly, also Ballina. He said they assaulted Mr Niland, leaving him with injuries that resulted in him going into intensive care. He died a little over 20 months later, Mr McGillicuddy told the Central Criminal Court. He said Mr Niland did not die as a 75-year-old man through natural causes but from complications due to blunt force trauma to his head as a result of a 'serious, sustained, prolonged assault perpetrated on him in his own house in rural Co Sligo'. He said it was the prosecution's case that Mr Irving was one of three men who broke into Mr Niland's home that night, assaulted him and left him there. Mr Irving faces four charges in total. It is alleged he unlawfully killed Mr Niland on September 30th, 2023, having assaulted him on January 18th, 2022, at Mr Niland's home at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo. It is further alleged that on January 18th, 2022, at Doonflynn, Mr Irving entered Mr Niland's home as a trespasser and caused him serious harm. He is further alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Mr Niland and to have falsely imprisoned him. Mr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all four charges. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eight women and four men continues.
