43 years combined sentence for Mayo men who killed pensioner Tom Niland

Three Mayo men who targeted and "brutally" assaulted Tom Niland, a vulnerable pensioner who they beat to death in his own home, have been sentenced to a combined 43 years in prison.
Sentencing the men yesterday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the victim was a kind man who was entitled to feel comfortable and secure in his own home.
The judge described the unlawful killing as "savage" and he noted that the killers had carried out reconnaissance on Mr Niland and targeted him because he lived alone and, as a man in his 70s, they "fully understood" that he could be easily overcome.
John Irving (31) of Shanwar, Foxford, Co Mayo; Francis Harman (58) of Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina Co Mayo; and John Clarke (37) of Carrowkelly, Ballina all pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year. They attacked Mr Niland at his home at Doonflynn, Skryne, Co Sligo on January 18, 2022 and took his wallet, containing about €800.
After the assault, the three men drove to a wilderness area where they disposed of the wallet and gloves containing DNA evidence that later linked them to the crime. They then drove to Ballina to settle a bill at Casey's Garage where they had been unable to pay when they filled up at the same station hours earlier.
Mr Niland, meanwhile, managed to cross the road and alerted neighbours despite having suffered brain injuries, a fracture to his eye socket and multiple rib fractures. An ambulance took him to Sligo General Hospital where he initially seemed to improve before his condition deteriorated. He was put on life support but succumbed to his injuries on September 30, 2023.

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Prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy SC previously told the court that the DPP believed the offences warranted headline sentences of 15 to 20 years.
Mr Justice McDermott sentenced Irving to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for two years. He sentenced Clarke and Harman to 15 years with the final year suspended. Each defendant must engage with probation services on their release or they face serving the suspended portion of their sentences.
Following the sentencing hearing, Mr Niland's family members and friends hugged one another and shook hands with gardai and prosecutors.
Outside court, Mr Niland's cousin Michael Walsh thanked gardai and prosecutors for their "commitment, kindness, professionalism and constant availability to answer our questions."
He further thanked the staff at Sligo University Hospital and the "wonderful friends and neighbours who gave up their time and effort to search for evidence on the roads and ditches for 20 kilometres in the worst possible weather that year."