87-year-old Clare man stabbed to death in London

AN elderly Clare man has been stabbed to death while on his mobility scooter in London in what has been described by investigating police as “a shocking act of unprovoked violence”.

Thomas O’Halloran, an 87-year-old grandfather was living in the Greenford area of west London but was originally from Ennistymon where he still has a large number of family. The community of Ennistymon have been rallying around the O’Halloran family at this tragic time local Senator Martin Conway has said.

Mr O’Halloran was a popular figure in Greenford where he was well known for entertaining locals with his accordion and on the day of his killing it is understood he had been busking to raise money for charity.

Police were called just after 4pm on Tuesday to Runnymede Gardens, at the junction with Cayton Road, Greenford to reports of a man with stab wounds. Officers responded and gave emergency first aid until the arrival of the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, Mr O’Halloran was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and they are being supported by specialist officers.

Officers believe that Mr O’Halloran was stabbed in Western Avenue shortly before 4.06pm that day before managing to travel 75 yards or so on his mobility scooter to Runnymede Gardens, where he flagged down a member of the public for help.

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and they have released images of a man they are keen to identify as a matter of urgency.

He was seen fleeing the scene armed with a knife. He was wearing grey shorts, a dark coloured t-shirt, a white baseball cap and white patterned builder style gloves.

Senator Conway, while expressing sympathy with Mr O’Halloran’s family commented, “This is absolutely horrific, a totally unprovoked killing of an old man who was going about his daily business.

“He was a very good person who did significant fundraising for various charities, in most recent times he fund-raised for the Ukrainian community displaced as a result of the Russian and Ukrainian invasion. This was a horrendous tragedy. I sincerely hope that the perpetrator is brought to justice as a matter of absolute urgency.

“I would like to offer my sympathy to the O’Halloran family in Ennistymon, to his siblings, nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. The O’Halloran family are a very popular very well liked family. This was a terrible tragedy and the community are rallying around them at this very difficult time.”

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, who is in charge of policing for west London, including Ealing, said, “Mr O’Halloran had his life needlessly snatched away in a shocking act of unprovoked violence. I understand that the community will, quite rightly, be shocked and appalled by this incident as I am too.

“Mr O’Halloran was a very well known and much loved member of our community. My thoughts are with his family and friends. I’d like to appeal for their privacy to be respected while they come to terms with their loss.

“Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, with the assistance of my officers, have been working tirelessly over the last 20 hours to understand what has happened and to identify who is responsible for this horrific crime.”

He confirmed extra officers will be patrolling the area in the coming days, and he urged anybody with information “about this awful incident” to come forward.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Thomas O’Halloran and his family at this time,” he concluded.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who is leading the investigation, said, “We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images as a matter of urgency. He is clearly a dangerous individual and people are advised not to approach him, but to call us immediately on 999 if they know him or have any information regarding his whereabouts.”

Appealing to anybody with information about the killing to contact police he said, “My team and I have been working around the clock to bring Mr O’Halloran’s killer to justice, but we need your help.”