Thomas O’Halloran was said to be a kind man (Picture: SWNS)
A man who stabbed an 87-year-old man in a ‘vicious attack’ has plead guilty to his manslaughter at the Old Bailey.
Lee Byer, 45, inflicted several stab wounds on 87-year-old charity busker Thomas O’Halloran, who was riding a mobility scooter in Greenford, west London.
Mr O’Halloran was attacked in broad daylight on August 16, 2022, but managed to travel a short distance on his scooter as he looked for help.
The court heard how he asked a passer-by for help and told them he had been stabbed, with his wound clearly visible.
Paramedics were called and battled to save him when he collapsed minutes after the attack but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Grandfather Mr O’Halloran was originally from Co Clare in western Ireland and had been well known in the local community, where he raised money for charitable causes by playing music.
Thomas O’Halloran was attacked in broad daylight (Picture: Met Police)
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Mr O’Halloran’s brother said: ‘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.’
Footage on social media showed him busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.
Hitesh Patel, a shop owner at Greenford Station, told the Evening Standard: ‘He always had a Ukraine flag on the front of his basket. It said “Help for Ukraine” as he played. He was very good, kind man.’
Mr O’Halloran was survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.
At the time of his death, Fine Gael senator Martin Conway said Mr O’Halloran visited Ireland regularly and that his death had left his home community in Ennistymon in ‘deep shock and sadness’.
‘Tommy, as he was known, left Ennistymon for London 71 years ago but travelled home almost every year until about 10 years ago,’ he said.
Mr O’Halloran drove his scooter 75 yards while bleeding to seek help (Picture: PA/@ronny000000000)
Lee Byer plead guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey (Picture: PA)
Byer, who will be sentenced in May, had a string of previous convictions, and been released from Wormwood Scrubs days before killing Mr O’Halloran.
Mr O’Halloran and the defendant were caught on CCTV heading towards the passageway where their paths crossed.
The footage showed that, apart from Byer, no-one else went into or out of the area when the victim was attacked.
When he left the passageway, a knife could be seen in Byer’s hand.
He was caught on camera depositing a knife handle in a drain in Haymill Close on the way back to his mother’s house.
Forensic analysis found the victim’s blood on the handle, although the blade was never found.
In police interviews, Byer denied being the suspect caught on CCTV, claiming he was in his mother’s garden or the park at the time.
After being arrested at his mother’s house on August 18, Byer told police: ‘Murder, I was in prison at the time.’
Clothes matching those seen on CCTV were found in a search of the property as well as a knife set with handles similar to the one found in the drain.
Police also alleged Byer had tried to burn the clothes he was wearing in his mother’s garden.
Old Bailey Judge Mark Lucraft adjourned sentencing until May 10.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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