Clare man killed in London described as 'community king on his mobility throne'

Thomas O'Halloran on his mobility scooter playing the accordion in London. Picture: Kieran McKenna /PA Wire

A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran on a mobility scooter in west London.

He was arrested at an address in Southall, west London, in the early hours of Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who leads the investigation, said: “I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support following this horrific incident. As a result of the release of a CCTV image yesterday, an arrest has been made and this investigation is progressing at pace.

“Mr O’Halloran’s family have been updated with this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.” 

It comes after officers were called to Cayton Road, in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday to reports of a stabbing and Mr O’Halloran was declared dead at the scene.

Detectives believe Mr O’Halloran was stabbed in Western Avenue about 4pm 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.

Mr O'Halloran was from Co Clare and left his native Ennistymon 71 years ago, but had travelled home to see family every year until around 10 years ago.

The local community in Clare expressed their “deep shock” following the pensioner’s death.

Mr O’Halloran is survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.

Local Fine Gael senator Martin Conway said Mr O’Halloran visited Ireland regularly and that his death has left his home community in Ennistymon and north Clare in “deep shock and sadness”.

Mr Conway described it as “almost unbelievable” that an elderly man using a mobility scooter was targeted in daylight.

“It is truly shocking,” he said.

“I sincerely hope the perpetrators are brought to justice as soon as possible.” 

'Tommy', as he was known, left Ennistymon for London 71 years ago but travelled home almost every year until about 10 years ago.

He was a very popular man in the Greenford area of London, where he regularly played music and often busked for charity. Most recently, he raised money for the Ukrainian community living in London.

“I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the O’Halloran family both in London and Ennistymon at this very difficult time for them.”

Local councillor Fianna Fáil Shane Talty offered his sympathies to the Ennistymon community and Mr O’Halloran’s family.

Mr Talty said Mr O’Halloran left Clare as a young man but remained in contact with family there.

Thomas O'Halloran, 87, who had been riding a mobility scooter on Cayton Road, Greenford, in west London, when he was stabbed to death on Tuesday. 

“Terribly sad way to see a long life brought to an end,” he said.

Mr Conway noted the passionate musician was “very popular” in Greenford and often busked for charity.

Footage on social media shows Mr O’Halloran busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.

He can be seen playing his accordion and smiling, with a makeshift blue and yellow collection box strapped to his frame, in the video posted online in June.

'The cement that held this community together'

“We’ve lost the heart of our community,” former Labour MP for Ealing North Stephen Pound said, adding that Mr O’Halloran was like a “community king on his mobility throne”.

Mr Pound told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that Mr O’Halloran had always been looking for ways to raise money for people in need and had been collecting for Ukraine when he was killed.

“I don’t know why we called him Terry. I didn’t know much about his past. He was an absolute character and played up the cheerful Irishman stereotype.

“He was a sweet and lovely man.” Mr Pound described Mr O’Halloran as “the uncrowned king of Greenford.” 

 The former MP recalled that the Ennistymon-born Mr O’Halloran had frequently pointed him in the direction of people in need of help.

“He will be sadly missed.” While Mr O’Halloran may have been 87 years of age “in body”, he had a twinkle in his eyes of a 22-year-old and was very sharp.

“He was the cement that held this community together.” 

Mr Pound said the streets will be packed with mourners for his funeral.

“We’ve also lost someone who I think is irreplaceable because they simply don’t make people like him anymore,” he added.

“You just don’t see other people like him. He was a one-off, and was something special.”

 

Mr O’Halloran’s death had led to a loss of hope in the community, Mr Pound said, if something like this could happen in this way, who was safe?

For the stabbing to have taken place at 4pm, in broad daylight beside one of the main roads in London had stunned the community.

“We have lost the heart of our community.” 

There would now be an empty space on the Greenford Road, he added.

Mr O’Halloran had chatted to everyone, he was almost like a secular priest, he was the person to whom people told their troubles.

It will be strange to go by his space today.”

A man who works in a newsagents outside Perival station where Mr O'Halloran was known to busk said: “He used to play his accordion here.

“He came every day for a long time, at least two years. He usually busked around five o’clock.” 

Another shopkeeper said: “He was often outside the station playing his accordion.” 

Frasley Coutinho, who lives opposite where the attack happened, said he saw the victim surrounded by a group of young boys.

He said: “I saw a couple of people gathering around him and then he drove past and stopped further up, and then there was a group of young boys around him.” 

There have been 58 homicides in London so far this year.