Issue Date: 6th February 2022
At approximately 7pm, Tuesday 18th January 2022 three (3) masked men, forced their way into a private house on the N59, Skreen, Co. Sligo. This is the main route between Sligo and Ballina.
Thomas Niland, a 73 year old bachelor, was at home watching TV. He is the sole resident of the house. Tom answered a knock to his front door and was immediately and viciously assaulted and a small sum of money was stolen. The culprits left Tom with serious head and upper body injuries.
Tom, despite these serious injuries, managed to crawl from his home and alert passing motorists. Gardaí were then alerted by his neighbors.
Tom was transferred to Sligo University Hospital, where I am sad to say, his condition has deteriorated significantly. Tom 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. It is not known at this time, if any person remained in the car during the course of the attack.
A Garda family liaison officer was appointed to Tom’s family immediately after the incident & An Garda Síochána continues to support his family at this time throughout their ordeal.
A large scale criminal investigation was launched. An incident room was established at Sligo Garda station on the 18th January 2022 and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed along with a team of experienced detectives and Gardai.
A number of Checkpoints in the immediate aftermath of this aggravated burglary and house to house enquiries in the area yielded some information. An Garda Síochána have recovered hours of CCTV footage, taken a number of statements and developed a number of lines of enquiry to date including forensic analysis of the scene by Scenes of Crime Officers supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau.
An Garda Síochána continue and will continue investigating all the circumstances relating to this aggravated burglary during which Tom was assaulted. No stone will be left unturned. Gardaí are appealing for any person with any information on this vicious and cowardly aggravated burglary and assault on Tom to contact us immediately.
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 investigating 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.
Speaking today Superintendent Mandy Gaynor, Sligo Garda Station appealed "There are people out there who know who was involved in this aggravated burglary and serious assault on an elderly man in his home. Thomas Niland and his family deserve to have these criminals who carried out this heartless act brought to Justice.
If you have any information on this callous and cowardly crime please contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 915 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station."
