Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1298Unlawful killing (manslaughter) · Co. Sligo · 18 Jan 2022

Three men plead guilty to unlawful killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland in Sligo

Three men, John Irving (31), Francis Harman (58) and John Clarke (37), are alleged to have broken into the home of 73-year-old man Tom Niland at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo on 18 January 2022, assaulted him and taken his wallet containing several hundred euro. Niland suffered brain injuries, a fractured eye socket and multiple rib fractures, was placed on life support, and died on 30 September 2023 from complications of blunt force trauma to his head. Harman and Clarke pleaded guilty to manslaughter the week before Irving's trial opened on 10 July 2025 before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court. Irving, who had initially pleaded not guilty to four charges including unlawful killing, changed his plea to guilty on 17 July 2025, and the jury was discharged.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Convicted17 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three men are alleged to have broken into Tom Niland's home, assaulted him, and taken his wallet containing several hundred euro.
  • Niland suffered brain injuries, a fracture to the floor of the right eye socket, and multiple rib fractures, and was placed on life support.
Where
The assault took place at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo, by the N59 between Sligo and Ballina.
When
The assault occurred on 18 January 2022 and Niland died on 30 September 2023, more than 20 months later.
Cause
Niland died from complications due to blunt force trauma to his head, not from natural causes.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found gloves at Lough Easkey containing DNA matching all three accused and blood matching Niland on the outside.
  • A kayaker found Niland's wallet under a couple of inches of water in Lough Easkey four days after the assault.
Charges
Irving is charged with unlawful killing, entering as a trespasser and causing serious harm, and false imprisonment.
In court
  • Harman and Clarke pleaded guilty to manslaughter the week before Irving's trial opened on 10 July 2025 before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
  • Irving initially pleaded not guilty to all four charges but changed his plea to guilty on 17 July 2025, and the jury was discharged.
Other details
  • The men had left Casey's garage in Ballina hours earlier unable to pay for diesel in their Vauxhall Vivaro van, and later returned to pay for petrol and goods in cash.
  • Niland told his neighbour that his doorbell rang and three masked men appeared and pushed him into his hallway.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Irving denies breaking into Niland's home in January 2022 with two other men and assaulting him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe three men assaulted Niland, leaving him with injuries that resulted in him going into intensive care. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatNiland died a little over 20 months after the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe assault left Mr Niland with injuries that resulted in him going into intensive care (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Niland died a little over 20 months after the assault (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTom Niland was 73 years old at the time of the assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was put on life support but died 20 months later. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe attackers took his wallet containing several hundred euro. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey had left the same garage hours earlier unable to pay for diesel in their Vauxhall Vivaro van. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFrancis Harman was the driver of the van and told the garage owner he would be back later to pay. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey assaulted him, took his wallet and drove to Lough Easkey where they disposed of gloves, the wallet and other items. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Niland told his neighbour his doorbell rang and three men wearing masks appeared and pushed him into his hallway. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA pair of tights or nylons lay on the driveway. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAmbulance paramedic George Williams said Mr Niland had multiple injuries and trauma to the head and skull. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatScans revealed bleeding to the brain, a fracture to the floor of the orb of the right eye and multiple broken ribs on the right side. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBetween 20 and 26 January Mr Niland made progress but then deteriorated, required a ventilator, and was placed on life support in the ICU. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKayaker John Scott found the wallet under a couple of inches of water in Lough Easkey four days after the assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGarda Elaine McAndrew arrived at Lough Easkey and took possession of the wallet. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereJohn Irving is 31 and lives at Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereFrancis Harman is 58 and lives at Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereJohn Clarke is 37 and lives at Carrowkelly, Ballina. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereJohn Irving is 31 and from Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo (irishtimes.com)
  • whereFrancis Harman is 58 and from Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina, Co Mayo (irishtimes.com)
  • whereJohn Clarke is 37 and from Carrowkelly, Ballina (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault took place at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo, by the N59 between Sligo and Ballina, near Sligo Bay. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenIrving is alleged to have unlawfully killed Niland on 30 September 2023, having assaulted him on 18 January 2022 at Doonflynn, Skreen, Co Sligo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeNiland died from complications due to blunt force trauma to his head, not from natural causes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardai found a glove containing both the blood of Tom Niland and DNA matching the man accused of his unlawful killing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA kayaker at a nearby lake found a wallet containing the pensioner's identification after the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardai searched the area and found gloves. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationForensic scientists found DNA in one glove matching John Clarke and Francis Harman, and blood on the outside matching Niland. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAnother glove at the same location contained Irving's DNA inside and Niland's blood on the outside. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí discovered a glove containing the blood of Tom Niland and DNA matching the accused man (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationForensic scientists found DNA in one glove matching John Clarke and Francis Harman (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDNA from blood on the outside of that glove matched Mr Niland (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeIrving faces four charges in total. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIrving is alleged to have entered Niland's home as a trespasser and caused him serious harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMr Irving faces four charges in total (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is alleged to have unlawfully killed Mr Niland on 30 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is alleged to have intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Mr Niland (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is alleged to have falsely imprisoned Mr Niland (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIrving pleaded not guilty to all four charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eight women and four men. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtTony McGillicuddy SC opened the trial on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all four charges (irishtimes.com)
  • courtFrancis Harman and John Clarke pleaded guilty to the same offence the previous week. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jul2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Three men plead guilty to unlawfully killing Tom Niland

    Reports the guilty pleas of all three defendants during the trial at the Central Criminal Court, with Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharging the jury. Includes witness testimony from neighbours Anna and David Calpin, ambulance paramedic George Williams, emergency surgeon Dr Martin Caldwell, and kayaker John Scott who found the wallet in Lough Easkey. DNA on gloves matched all three suspects with Mr Niland's blood on the outside.

    victim, Tom Niland, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Nilandaccused, John Irving, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Irvingaccused, Francis Harman, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Harmanaccused, John Clarke, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Clarke
  2. 10 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Trial opens into alleged killing of 73-year-old Tom Niland in Co Sligo

    Trial opening details: prosecution's forensic evidence (gloves with DNA and blood), full list of four charges, addresses of all three accused, and the judge presiding.

    victim, Tom Niland, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Nilandaccused, John Irving, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Irvingaccused, Francis Harman, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Harmanaccused, John Clarke, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Clarke
  3. 10 Jul2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Trial over death of pensioner Tom Niland hears of blood and DNA on glove

    Trial opening details: prosecution presents forensic evidence of gloves with Niland's blood and DNA of all three accused; four charges outlined; Irving on trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.

    victim, Tom Niland, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Nilandaccused, John Irving, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Irvingaccused, Francis Harman, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Harmanaccused, John Clarke, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Clarke