A friend of Sligo farmer Tom Niland has described him as “someone I admired all my life”. 

On 18th January 2022, Mr Niland was attacked in his Sligo home by three men and taken to hospital with severe injuries. 

The attackers left his home with around €800 in cash. 

20 months later, on 30th September 2023, Mr Niland passed away. 

Yesterday, John Irving, Francis Harman and John Clarke were sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to between 14 and 15 years in prison for the violent attack. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Sligo independent Councillor and friend of Mr Niland, Michael Clarke, described him as a “gentle giant”. 

 “[He] lived on a small holding and worked on a neighbour’s farm all his life,” Cllr Clarke described.  

“He was a larger than life physical body; very strong and tall, 6ft3 or 4 man, naturally fit and incredibly shy; a great friend and he was there for everybody. 

“We miss him dearly; he was a man that minded his own business. 

“He didn’t interfere in anyone’s life but anyone that ever reached out to Tom for help or assistance, Tom would be there.” 

Cllr Clarke added that Mr Niland was “someone I admired all my life” and that he lived in a “beautiful” part of the world, with panoramic views over Sligo Bay from his front door.  

“We were all shocked and stunned for the end of his life to come in such a manner,” he said. 

“Because he was so much loved and adored; we thought he was such a physically fit man at 73 that this was a man that would live on to be 100 years of age.

“And that he would be a constant in our community and we were devastated to what had happened to him.” 

Cllr Clarke continued that Mr Niland’s attack had changed with community, with many residents installing security features in the aftermath. 

“After dark, a knock on the door, they’d be very concerned,” he said. 

“People nearly would have to ring in advance and say, ‘I’ll be over in 20 minutes.’”

'No malice or hatred'

Sentencing Mr Niland’s three attackers, Mr Justice Paul McDermott described their actions as “cowardly” and said it had been “terrifying” for their victim. 

“We were relieved that we got to that stage; we were really advised by the prosecution team that we would at the upper end [of the sentencing guidelines],” Cllr Clarke said. 

“There was no malice or hatred in the families who are very satisfied with the conviction. 

“Their thoughts were with the family of the convicted yesterday; they now have to share in the pain of Tom’s loss. 

“There’s no winners in this situation.”

Main image: Tom Niland. Picture by: RIP.ie.