A man on trial for the unlawful killing of 75-year-old man Tom Niland, who was beaten in his Sligo 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 yesterday 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.
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