AN 87-year-old man stabbed to death in his mobility scooter in what police in London have described as a "shocking" act of violence was originally from Co Clare.
Thomas O'Halloran was targeted on Tuesday at Cayton Road in the Greenford area of London in an "unprovoked" daytime attack on his way to busk with his accordion.
The elderly man managed to travel 75 yards in his scooter to get help, but after paramedics arrived he was declared dead at the scene.
Police confirmed this morning that a 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
He was arrested at an address in Southall, west London, in the early hours of Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who is leading the investigation, said: "I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support following this horrific incident.
"As a result of the release of a CCTV image yesterday, an arrest has been made and this investigation is progressing at pace.
"Mr O'Halloran's family have been updated with this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers."
Met Police have described Mr Halloran as a well-known and "much-loved member of our community", and Superintendent Sean Wilson said locals were "shocked and appalled" by the attack.
Known as a busker in the Greenford area where he resided, Mr O'Halloran was originally from the Ennistymon area of Co Clare.
His death is the sixth suspected homicide in London in four days, and the 58th to date this year.
Mr O'Halloran was originally from Ennistymon, Co Clare, in the west of Ireland.
The local community in Clare expressed their "deep shock" following the pensioner's death.
Mr O'Halloran is survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.
Local Fine Gael senator Martin Conway said Mr O'Halloran visited Ireland regularly and that his death has left his home community in Ennistymon and north Clare in "deep shock and sadness".
Mr Conway noted the passionate musician was "very popular" in Greenford and often busked for charity.
Footage on social media shows Mr O'Halloran busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.
He can be seen playing his accordion and smiling, with a makeshift blue and yellow collection box strapped to his frame, in the video posted online in June.
Former Labour MP Stephen Pound paid tribute to Mr O'Halloran, an ex-constituent whom he knew from the busker's regular public presence in the area.
He told GB News: "Tom was a real local character. He would be outside Greenford station playing the accordion, occasionally the harmonica.
"He was a sweet, lovely man... He was well-liked and well-loved, but, above all, he was one of those characters who would cement an area."
A man who works in a newsagents outside the station said: "He used to play his accordion here.
"He came every day for a long time, at least two years. He usually busked around five o'clock."
Another shopkeeper said: "He was often outside the station playing his accordion."
Frasley Coutinho, who lives opposite where the attack happened, said he saw the victim surrounded by a group of young boys.
He said: "I saw a couple of people gathering around him and then he drove past and stopped further up, and then there was a group of young boys around him."
