He lived in Greenford in London where he was a "very well-known and much-loved" member of the community.
An elderly man stabbed to death while riding his mobility scooter in west London was from Ireland, according to reports.
On Tuesday (16 August), police were called just after 4pm to Runnymede Gardens, at the junction with Cayton Road in Greenford, after reports of a man with stab wounds.
Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
He has since been named as 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran, who the Met Police say lived in the Greenford area and was a grandfather.
Officers believe that Mr O’Halloran was stabbed in Western Avenue at around 4pm on Tuesday before managing to travel 75 yards or so on his mobility scooter to Runnymede Gardens, where he flagged down a member of the public for help.
Police have released images of a man they are keen to identify as a matter of urgency who was seen fleeing the scene armed with a knife.
He was wearing grey shorts, a dark coloured t-shirt, a white baseball cap and white patterned builder-style gloves.
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/1559883133360676864
“We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images as a matter of urgency. He is clearly a dangerous individual and people are advised not to approach him, but to call us immediately on 999 if they know him or have any information regarding his whereabouts," Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood said.
“My team and I have been working around the clock to bring Mr O’Halloran’s killer to justice, but we need your help.
"If you have any information at all that will assist us with our investigation – no matter how small – please contact us or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
“I’d also appeal to anyone who might have dash cam or cycle helmet footage that might have captured the incident to get in touch with us.”
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, who is in charge of policing for west London, said O’Halloran was a much-loved member of the community.
The 87-year-old was a musician who would often play his accordion to raise money for Ukrainian refugees.
Shop owner at the nearby Greenford station Hitesh Patel told
the Standard: “He always had a Ukraine flag on the front of his basket. It said ‘Help for Ukraine’. He was a very good, kind man.
“I saw him just before he was killed heading up to the A40 on his scooter I was filling up with petrol but I wish I had said something. His wife was also always with him in her mobility scooter.
"He told me he was Irish and had three sons.
"It’s so sad. I can’t believe anyone would hurt him in broad daylight like that.
"We will miss him and his playing around here.”
According to multiple reports, Mr O'Halloran was originally from Ennistymon in Clare.
