Sligo Gardaí have renewed their appeal this morning in the case of the ‘vicious and cowardly’ January 18th attack on 73 year, Tom Niland, who is now in a critical condition and on life support in Sligo University Hospital.
At approximately 7pm three masked men, forced their way into his home on the N59, Skreen, Co. Sligo where he was watching TV alone and the sole resident of the house.
Gardaí say Tom answered a knock to his front door and was immediately and viciously assaulted, leaving him with serious head and upper body injuries and a small sum of money was stolen.
Tom, despite these serious injuries, managed to crawl from his home and alert passing motorists who then alerted Gardaí.
Tom was transferred to Sligo University Hospital, where Superintendent Mandy Gaynor of Sligo garda station said this morning his condition has deteriorated significantly. He is now in a critical condition and on life support.
It is believed that the attackers arrived in a car, which reversed into the driveway of Tom’s house.
Gardaí are appealing to every person who was driving along the N59 (Sligo/ Ballina Road), in the Skreen area, on Tuesday 18th January between 4pm – 8pm, who may have dashcam or any other video footage to contact Gardaí.
Gardaí are appealing for any person, who noticed any activity by persons or vehicles which drew their attention, in the wider N59 Skreen locality to contact Gardaí with that information, whether you think it is related to this investigation or not.
