An elderly pensioner, originally from Co Clare, who was a familiar sight in the West London suburb of Greenford as he travelled on his mobility scooter and played Irish music on his accordion, has been stabbed to death in a horrific attack.
A video of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran was captured by traditional music forum The Reels, and showed the kind-hearted gentleman playing Boolavogue outside his local Tesco as he sought to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees. He was born in the market town of Ennistymon in Co Clare.
I cannot believe I'm writing this
I met this wonderful man Thomas O'Halloran this June, playing tunes outside Tesco's in Perivale. He was 87 years of age!
This gentleman, was stabbed to death on his mobility scooter in broad daylight yesterday afternoon in Greenford!
R.I.P 🖤 pic.twitter.com/L1kJxVhyZ3— The Reels (@The_Reels_uk) August 17, 2022
The elderly man is the latest victim of knife crime in London, after he was attacked in Greenford’s Cayton Road near the busy A40 Western Avenue shortly before 4pm on Tuesday by at least one knifeman.
Distressing reports and one account from an eye witness indicate that the pensioner, who was on his mobility scooter and reportedly travelling to the pub, was “surrounded by a gang of youths” and stabbed.
It has emerged that the disabled pensioner managed to travel around 75 yards on his mobility scooter after being fatally injured, shouting desperately for help before he died from his injuries. Neighbours rushed to help and attempted to administer first aid before paramedics arrived, with footage from the scene posted online showing paramedics running to treat the victim.
Mr O’Halloran was sadly declared dead at the scene, by which stage his attacker had already fled – either into the nearby streets or an underpass beneath the A40 Western Avenue.
Mr O’Halloran’s violent killing has shook the West London community, and is the 59th murder to take place in the English capital so far this year. His killing is the sixth murder probe launched by the MET police in just four days in London.
Neighbours and friends paid tribute to the father of three, grandfather and county Clare native.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Hitesh Patel, 62, a shop owner at Greenford station, said that Mr O’Halloran would regularly play the accordion on his mobility scooter outside Tesco and Greenford station to raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Mr Patel said: “He was Irish and he had a white beard and he used to play music outside.
“People used to call him Mr Bond because he would drive around on his scooter and rev the engine.
It is believed that Mr O’Halloran had lived in the area for as long as 20 years.
“He has lived here a long time. Maybe 20 years. My husband saw him yesterday at about 11am near to where it happened on the A40. I know his wife as well. He had quite a few sons I think.
“Every day he would come and play here. We knew it was him because he had a Ukraine flag on his scooter and he used to raise money for charity,” Ms Patel added.
Police have now released images captured from CCTV footage which show a man armed with a knife running from the scene.
NEW: Detectives investigating the stabbing of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran in Greenford release CCTV images of a man seen running from the scene armed with a knife.@metpoliceuk urge anyone who sees him to call 999 immediately. pic.twitter.com/FjoQDlkYh8
— Michael Knowles (@Express_Knowles) August 17, 2022
Those who knew the “kind old man” expressed shock that the harmless pensioner fell victim to such brutal violence.
Speaking to The Telegraph, upset security workers at the Tesco in Perivale recalled how for the past six to seven months Mr O’Halloran had “brought a smile to people’s faces” by playing the accordion for an hour and a half every lunchtime.
The security guard, who did not wish to be named, told the paper: “He was a very kind man. The nicest man. He made everyone very, very happy when he would come here and play. He was a special man.
“I am going to miss him very much. He brought a smile to people’s faces. Already people are laying flowers outside the store.
“He was here yesterday at lunchtime. I must have seen him a few hours before he was killed. I was talking to him just then. When I left yesterday he said ‘have a nice evening’. I am going to miss him and his music.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “My officers are working to understand what has happened to this man, and we need the public’s assistance.
“I’m asking for anyone with dash cam or cycle helmet footage to contact us if they were using the Western Avenue A40 Eastbound in the proximity of Cayton Road and Welland Gardens between 15:15hrs and 16:15hrs.
“The elderly victim, who was riding a mobility scooter, was in the area at the time. If you saw the victim, or captured anyone acting suspiciously in the area, it is imperative that you make contact.”