Latest news with #unlawfulkilling
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
'Missed opportunities' before girl, 14, killed man
"Missed opportunities" possibly contributed to the death of a man who was unlawfully killed when he was stabbed by a violent 14-year-old girl, a coroner concluded. Nimroy Hendricks died after the teenager - only identified as Child A because of reporting restrictions - stabbed him in the chest in October 2020 at an address in the Three Bridges area of Crawley, West Sussex. Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield identified failures from both Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council over the death of Mr Hendricks, a 24-year-old musician. She said that had "additional safeguarding measures" been put in place for the girl then Mr Hendricks might still be alive today. Sussex Police said "no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct" by the force had been found. The inquest heard that in the early hours of 27 October 2020, police left Child A with a female who they believed to be a family member who would be responsible for her. However, officers did not realise that this person - who had a criminal record and claimed to be a cousin - was not a relative as assumed, and was not living at the address given. Just hours later Child A killed Mr Hendricks - who was known to her family - after he visited the address. The coroner added that it had also not been possible to contact Child A's social worker on that day and "an arranged urgent strategy meeting to consider her recent deterioration and issues relating to her living arrangements had not taken place". "Had these matters been addressed, the perpetrator may not have been in a position to carry out the act which led to Mr Hendricks' death," she said. 'Relieved beyond words' Earlier this month West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Coroner's Court heard how Child A - who is now 19 - had a history of violent crime and mental health issues. She had also threatened to stab her mother in the neck hours before attacking Mr Hendricks, for whose manslaughter she was sentenced to five years in jail in 2022. Mr Hendricks' mother, Lisa, called him "deeply caring and so kind", adding that the family had not only lost their son but their best friend too. Criticising the failings which may have led to his death, she said: "It's appalling that such a trail of devastation has ended in the loss of an innocent young man's life, all because those who could and should have intervened in practical and meaningful ways simply did not." Mrs Hendricks added: "As a family we are relieved beyond words that [Child A] will at last be in a position to receive whatever interventions are necessary to keep her and the public safe." A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "We have fully supported the coronial process, which rightly scrutinised the involvement we and other partner agencies had with Child A prior to Mr Hendricks' death. "We acknowledge the inquest conclusion, which found no causative link between the death and the police actions. "The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigated the case after it was referred by Sussex Police and they found no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct by the force." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Social services had concerns for killer child Teenager in fatal stabbing known to pose a risk Girl, 15, admits stabbing man to death Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Three men plead guilty to unlawfully killing Tom Niland (73)
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 has 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 several hundred euros 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. READ MORE Irving, of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty on Thursday morning to Mr Niland's unlawful killing. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon then discharged the jury. 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 18th, 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 30th, 2023, aged 75.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man accused of unlawful killing of Tom Niland pleads guilty and admits to killing Sligo pensioner
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. 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 18th, 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 30th, 2023, aged 75. More to follow...
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- 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.
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (31) pleads not guilty to unlawful killing, trespass, causing serious harm and false imprisonment of pensioner
A jury has been sworn at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of a 31-year-old who denies the unlawful killing of 74-year-old Tom Niland in Sligo after the accused is alleged to have entered the pensioner's home as a trespasser and falsely imprisoned him. Mr Niland (74) died on September 30th, 2023, more than 20 months after he suffered serious injuries following an alleged home invasion on January 18th, 2022. Advertisement John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Niland 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 pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon swore a jury of eight women and four men to hear the trial, which the judge said is likely to last about two weeks. The trial begins on Thursday.
