Thomas O?Halloran. See SWNS story SWBNstab3. Detectives investigating the murder of an 87-year-old grandfather in Ealing have released images of a man who was seen running from the scene armed with a knife. Police were called at 16:06hrs on Tuesday, 16 August to Runnymede Gardens, at the junction with Cayton Road, Greenford to reports of a man with stab wounds. Officers responded and gave emergency first aid until the arrival of the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been named as Thomas O?Halloran, who lived in the Greenford area. His family have been informed and they are being supported by specialist officers.
Thomas O’Halloran’s brother and nephew described him as a ‘kind and gentle’ man (Picture: Met Police/SWNS)

The family of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran, who was stabbed to death on his mobility scooter, have spoken of their ‘complete numbness’ following his ‘absolutely senseless’ death.

Mr O’Halloran, who was originally from Ennistymon in Co Clare in the west of Ireland, died after being knifed in the chest in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday.

His brother and nephew described him as a ‘kind and gentle’ man.

They said his family and the wider community have been left devastated by his killing.

The pensioner is survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.

A man charged with Mr O’Halloran’s murder has been remanded in custody.

Lee Byer, 44, appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Lee Byer, 44, of Southall, west London appearing at Willesden Magistrates' Court in north west London, in connection with the murder of 87-year-old Thomas O'Halloran, who was stabbed to death as he rode in his mobility scooter in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday. Picture date: Friday August 19, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Greenford . Photo credit should read: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire
Court artist sketch of Lee Byer appearing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court (Picture: PA)

Mr O’Halloran’s younger brother George told the Daily Mail: ‘Tommy was a kind and gentle man.

‘He was a very kind person who would get along with anybody. This was a terrible thing to have happened.’

Mr O’Halloran left Ireland as a teenager in the 1950s and emigrated to the UK along with eight siblings.

He was born into a large family and lived in a small thatched cottage on the outskirts of Ennistymon.

His brother said: ‘He left Ennistymon 70 years ago to find better opportunities in London. But he came back every year.

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‘He loved to play music. He did not drink or smoke but he could sit in a bar all night long with a bottle of Coke and listen to the band play.’

Handout screenshot taken from a video with permission from the Facebook page of Kieran McKenna of Thomas O'Halloran, 87, on his mobility scooter playing the accordian outside Tesco, Perival, west London. Mr O'Halloran who had been riding a mobility scooter on Cayton Road, Greenford, in west London, when he was stabbed to death on Tuesday. Picture date: Wednesday August 17, 2022. PA Photo. Metropolitan Police officers were called at 4.06pm on Tuesday to Cayton Road, Greenford, to reports of a man with stab injuries, and despite the efforts of paramedics he was declared dead at the scene. See PA story POLICE Greenford. Photo credit should read: Kieran McKenna /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Handout screenshot of Thomas O’Halloran, 87, on his mobility scooter playing the accordian outside Tesco, Perival, west London (Picture: PA)

George O’Halloran said he and his siblings grew up in humble circumstances with no electricity or running water but that their parents gave them a love of life.

‘Our father Thomas and mother loved music. So we were brought up listening to music. That is where Tommy got his love of music,’ he added.

George’s son and Thomas O’Halloran’s nephew, Thomas O’Halloran Jnr, told Irish broadcaster RTE: ‘It’s complete numbness with the loss of our uncle.

‘It’s been horrendous, absolutely terrifying that something like this could happen to such a gentle, kind person.’

Mr O’Halloran said his uncle was ‘always caring, always giving’.

He added: ‘Great musical talent, just an all-round good person that always did his best to give back to everybody around him. He’s the type of guy that would give the shirt off his back.’

Mr O’Halloran Jnr added: ‘At that stage in somebody’s life, to reach 87 is a feat in itself, but to be tragically taken away from his direct family and his extended family here in Ireland, it’s senseless. Absolutely senseless.

‘The violence, seemingly for no particular reason, which has completely shocked all of us. It’s numbing, it’s unbearable to think about.’

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