The community of Ennistymon is said to be in deep shock today, following the murder of a local man in London.
87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran was attacked while driving his mobility scooter on Tuesday.
A man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
87 year-old Thomas O’Halloran was a passionate musician who often busked for charity in Greenford.
A native of Ennistymon in Co. Clare, he worked at Terence Harten’s on the main street, next door to Eugene’s pub, as a young man, fixing radios and carrying out general repairs.
Like many others at the time, he left for London at the age of 16, and it’s understood he continued his work repairing radios and various items in the community where he lived up until he died.
Thomas was attacked while driving his mobility scooter on Tuesday, with police calling him a victim of “unprovoked violence”.
Close friend Wayne Hughes says Thomas O’Halloran had been busking on the streets to raise money for Ukrainian refugees prior to his death.
A 44-year-old man was arrested in the Southall area of London in the early hours of this morning on suspicion of the murder.
Metropolitan Police launched an appeal for witnesses yesterday and London-based journalist Vincent McAviney says officers received a massive response from the public.
Thomas has a large circle of relatives living in the Ennistymon and North Clare areas, including his two brothers George and Dickie, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The O’Halloran family are well known in the local community and are active both in sporting organisations and in a voluntary capacity.
Thomas travelled home to see them almost every year, up until about a decade ago when it became difficult for him to continue doing so, but he maintained contact with family and the community.
Local Senator Martin Conway says the family are shocked and appalled and it’s hard to form words to express the horror that’s being felt by everyone in the community.
Listen back to the full interview here:
Ennistymon-based Councillor Shane Talty says the local community will support his relatives and friends in the coming days.
May he rest in peace.
