Latest news with #Niland
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Man, 31, dramatically admits role in killing of Sligo farmer, 73, beaten in rural home by 3 men & left to die
A MAN who had been on trial for the vicious killing of farmer Tom Niland dramatically admitted his role in the attack today. John Irving, 31, pleaded guilty to 2 John Irving pleaded guilty to manslaughter Credit: James Connolly 2 Tom Niland died from his injuries 20 months after the incident He became the third person to admit manslaughter over the death of Mr Niland, who suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures following the assault. He was put on life support but died from his injuries 20 months later. His attackers took his wallet containing €800 or €900 and went to Casey's garage in Ballina, They had left the same garage just hours earlier unable to pay for diesel they had already put into their Vauxhall Vivaro van. READ MORE IN NEWS Francis Harman, the driver of the van, had told the garage owner that he would be back later to pay for the fuel. After Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty this morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury which began hearing evidence in the trial five days ago. It can now be reported that Harman, 58, of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina Co Mayo and John Clarke, 37, of Carrowkelly, Ballina pleaded guilty to the same offence last week. Irving was further charged with entering Mr Niland's home as a trespasser and causing him serious harm, intentionally or recklessly causing him serious harm and false imprisonment. Most read in Irish News However, the Director of Public Prosecutions indicated that the guilty plea to manslaughter meets the prosecution's case. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the matter to October 13. She also ordered victim impact statements from the Niland family and probation and psychological reports for Irving. Defence counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, said his client was anxious to apologise to the court and jury for taking up their time. The three men broke into Mr Niland's home between 6pm and 7pm at Doonflynn, Skreen, They assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items that might link them to the crime. Opening the case last week, prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy SC told the jury that on the day of the break-in, people in Ireland were wearing masks in the midst of a 'TOTALLY DISTORTED' Mr Niland lived alone at Doonflynn, by the N59 between Sligo and Ballina, near Sligo Bay. Looking out from his house, he could see the hills of Shortly after 7pm, having been assaulted, Mr Niland was able to get up and walk towards the home of his neighbours, the Calpins, living across the N59. Anna Calpin told Mr McGillicuddy that she was in her garden with her daughter when they went to see why cars were slowing down on the road. She said: 'As we approached, he [Mr Niland] 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. 'When we got closer to him, the first thing we heard was, I was robbed, and then we realised it was Tom.' The witness recalled a lot of blood, telling the court that his face was 'totally distorted', while his eyes were swollen and shut. He had a runner on one foot and a shoe on the other but neither one was laced up. 'HE WAS UNRECOGNISABLE' She recalled Mr Niland telling her that 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 containing €800 or €900. Ms Calpin brought Mr Niland into her home and called an ambulance and gardai. Ms Calpin's husband, David Calpin, said he was in his workshop when his daughter came in and said that Mr Niland had been 'robbed and assaulted'. When he saw his neighbour, he recalled: 'He was so badly beaten that his eyes wouldn't even open, he was covered in blood on his face and clothes. He was basically unrecognisable.' Mr Calpin went across to Mr Niland's house where he saw blood 'running down the glass of the front door'.
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Three men have pleaded guilty to killing Sligo pensioner Tom Niland
JOHN IRVING THIS morning changed his plea to guilty five days into his trial for the unlawful killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland, who was beaten in his home and left to die by three men. Irving (31) became the third person to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of Mr Niland, who suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures following the assault. He was put on life support but died from his injuries 20 months later. His attackers took his wallet containing €800 or €900 and went to Casey's garage in Ballina, Co Mayo, where they paid for petrol and goods in cash. They had left the same garage just hours earlier unable to pay for diesel they had already put into their Vauxhall Vivaro van. Francis Harman, the driver of the van, had told the garage owner that he would be back later to pay for the fuel. Advertisement After Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty this morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury which had been hearing evidence in the trial. It can now be reported that Francis Harman (58) of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina Co Mayo and John Clarke (37) of Carrowkelly, Ballina pleaded guilty to the same offence last week. The three men broke into Mr Niland's home between 6pm and 7pm at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo on January 18, 2022. They assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items that might link them to the crime. Shortly after 7pm, Mr Niland's neighbours saw him trying to cross the road, unable to see because his eyes were swollen shut. They said he was covered in blood and described him as unrecognisable due to the extent of his injuries. Doctors at Sligo University Hospital discovered bleeding to Mr Niland's brain, a fracture to his right eye socket and multiple rib fractures. Although he showed early signs of progress, he was put on a ventilator in intensive care eight days after the assault and did not recover. He was pronounced dead on September 30, 2023, aged 75.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man admits killing pensioner Tom Niland five days into trial
John Irving is now the third person to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of the 73-year-old. Five days into his trial for the unlawful killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland, who was beaten in his home and left to die by three men, John Irving this morning changed his plea to guilty. Irving (31) became the third person to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of Mr Niland, who suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures following the assault. He was put on life support but died from his injuries 20 months later. His attackers took his wallet containing €800 or €900 and went to Casey's garage in Ballina, Co Mayo, where they paid for petrol and goods in cash. They had left the same garage just hours earlier unable to pay for diesel they had already put into their Vauxhall Vivaro van. Francis Harman, the driver of the van, had told the garage owner that he would be back later to pay for the fuel. After Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty this morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury which had been hearing evidence in the trial. Tom Niland and John Irving Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th It can now be reported that Francis Harman (58) of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina Co Mayo and John Clarke (37) of Carrowkelly, Ballina pleaded guilty to the same offence last week. The three men broke into Mr Niland's home between 6pm and 7pm at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo on January 18, 2022. They assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items that might link them to the crime. Shortly after 7pm, Mr Niland's neighbours saw him trying to cross the road, unable to see because his eyes were swollen shut. They said he was covered in blood and described him as unrecognisable due to the extent of his injuries. Doctors at Sligo University Hospital discovered bleeding to Mr Niland's brain, a fracture to his right eye socket and multiple rib fractures. Although he showed early signs of progress, he was put on a ventilator in intensive care eight days after the assault and did not recover. He was pronounced dead on September 30, 2023, aged 75.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Three men plead guilty to manslaughter of Tom Niland
A man on trial for the unlawful killing of 75-year-old Tom Niland, who was beaten in his home and left to die by three men, has changed his plea to guilty. On the fifth day of his trial, 31-year-old John Irving became the third person to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of Mr Niland, who suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures following the assault. It can now be reported that 58-year-old Francis Harman, of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo, and 37-year-old John Clarke, of Carrowkelly, Ballina, pleaded guilty to the same offence last week. Mr Niland was put on life support following the attack, but died from his injuries 20 months later. His attackers took his wallet containing €800 or €900 and went to Casey's garage in Ballina, Co Mayo, where they paid for petrol and goods in cash. They had left the same garage just hours earlier unable to pay for diesel they had already put into their Vauxhall Vivaro van. Harman, the driver of the van, had told the garage owner that he would be back later to pay for the fuel. After Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty this morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury which had been hearing evidence in the trial. The three men broke into Mr Niland's home between 6pm and 7pm at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo on 18 January, 2022. They assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items that might link them to the crime. Shortly after 7pm, Mr Niland's neighbours saw him trying to cross the road, unable to see because his eyes were swollen shut. They said he was covered in blood and described him as unrecognisable due to the extent of his injuries. Doctors at Sligo University Hospital discovered bleeding to Mr Niland's brain, a fracture to his right eye socket and multiple rib fractures. Although he showed early signs of progress, he was put on a ventilator in intensive care eight days after the assault and did not recover. He was pronounced dead on 30 September, 2023, aged 75.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Three men accused of killing Sligo pensioner Tom Niland plead guilty
Five days into his trial for the unlawful killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland, who was beaten in his home and left to die by three men, John Irving changed his plea to guilty on Thursday morning. Irving, 31, became the third person to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of Mr Niland, who suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures following the assault. He was put on life support but died from his injuries 20 months later. His attackers took his wallet containing €800 or €900, and went to Casey's garage in Ballina, Co Mayo, where they paid for petrol and goods in cash. They had left the same garage just hours earlier, unable to pay for diesel they had already put into their Vauxhall Vivaro van. Francis Harman, the driver of the van, had told the garage owner he would be back later to pay for the fuel. After Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty on Thursday morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the jury, which had been hearing evidence in the trial. It can now be reported that Francis Harman, 58, of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina Co Mayo, and John Clarke, 37, of Carrowkelly, Ballina, pleaded guilty to the same offence last week. The three men broke into Mr Niland's home between 6pm and 7pm at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo, on January 18, 2022. They assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey, where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items that might link them to the crime. Shortly after 7pm, Mr Niland's neighbours saw him trying to cross the road, unable to see because his eyes were swollen shut. They said he was covered in blood and described him as unrecognisable due to the extent of his injuries. Doctors at Sligo University Hospital discovered bleeding to Mr Niland's brain, a fracture to his right eye socket and multiple rib fractures. Although he showed early signs of progress, he was put on a ventilator in intensive care eight days after the assault and did not recover. He was pronounced dead on September 30, 2023, aged 75.
