Ireland Fourth man arrested over 2022 aggravated burglary in Skreen, Co Sligo
On 18 January 2022 a residential premises in Skreen, Co Sligo, was the scene of an aggravated burglary in which farmer Tom Niland, 75, who lived alone, was attacked and left paralysed from the neck down. Three men have been charged with aggravated burglary with a knife, assault causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Tom Niland, and have appeared before the courts; reports name one of them as Francis Harman, 55. Tom Niland died at Sligo University Hospital after 18 months of care, and his death was reported in November 2023. On 2 November 2023 gardaí arrested a man in his 60s, who was released without charge that evening, with a file to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and investigations are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Nov
2 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court1 Nov
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- An aggravated burglary took place at a residential premises in Skreen, Co Sligo.
- The victim, farmer Tom Niland, 75, who lived alone, was left paralysed from the neck down.
- Where
- The incident happened at a residential premises in Skreen, Co Sligo.
- When
- The aggravated burglary occurred on 18 January 2022.
- Weapon
- The attack involved a knife.
- Other details
- Tom Niland died at Sligo University Hospital, where he had been cared for for 18 months after the attack.
- Charges
- Three men have been charged with aggravated burglary with a knife, assault causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Tom Niland.
- Reports name one of the charged men as Francis Harman, 55, of Nephin Court, Killa.
- In court
- The three charged men have appeared before the courts.
- Investigation
- On 2 November 2023 gardaí arrested a man in his 60s in relation to the incident, and he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Co Sligo.
- The man in his 60s was released without charge on the evening of 2 November 2023.
- A file is to be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and investigations are ongoing.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAn aggravated burglary occurred at a residential premises in Skreen, Co. Sligo. (garda.ie)
- whatA fourth man has been arrested in connection with an aggravated burglary at a Sligo pensioner's home last year. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim, farmer Tom Niland, was left paralysed from the neck down. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA fourth man, aged in his 60s, was arrested on Thursday in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a residential premises in Skreen, Co Sligo. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe aggravated burglary occurred on 18 January 2022. (garda.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on 18 January 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe aggravated burglary involved a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man in his 60s in relation to the incident. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man was released without charge on 2 November 2023. (garda.ie)
- investigationA file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Co Sligo. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing and no further information is available. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe fourth man is detained at a garda station in Sligo under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing and no further information is available at this time. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThree other men have been charged in relation to the incident. (garda.ie)
- chargeThree other men have been charged in relation to this incident. (garda.ie)
- chargeThree men have already been charged and have appeared before the courts. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThree men are charged with aggravated burglary with a knife, assault causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Tom Niland. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe three other men charged have appeared before the courts. (garda.ie)
- courtThe three charged men have appeared before the courts. (garda.ie)
- otherTom Niland, 75, passed away at Sligo University Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Nov2023Fourth man arrested over aggravated burglary that left Sligo pensioner paralysed
Adds the arrest of a fourth man, aged in his 60s, and the charges already brought against three men from Co Mayo. Also reports that the victim, Tom Niland, has since passed away.
victim, Tom Niland, 75, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Nilandsuspect, 60s, maleaccused, Francis Harman, 55, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Francis Harmanaccused, John Clarke, 34, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)John Clarkeaccused, John Irving, 29, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)John Irving - 1 Nov2023Update: Arrest - Aggravated Burglary, Skreen, County Sligo on Tuesday 18th January 2022
Adds that a man in his 60s was arrested and detained in Co Sligo, and that three other men have been charged and appeared before the courts. Gives the incident date as 18 January 2022.
suspect, 60s, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, male - 1 Nov2023Update: Aggravated Burglary, Skreen, Co. Sligo. 18th January, 2022.
Update on the Skreen aggravated burglary: the man in his 60s was released without charge on 2 November 2023 with a file going to the DPP, and three other men have been charged and appeared in court. Investigations are ongoing.
suspect, 60s, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, male