A pensioner left on life support after a burglary at his home has made a “miracle recovery” and regained consciousness, his family have revealed.
Tom Niland, 73, was left in a coma and was not expected to survive following the attack at his home in Skreen, Co Sligo on January 18.
Speaking exclusively, his cousin Michael revealed Tom has made an unexpected recovery.
READ MORE: Three men arrested over burglary at home of Sligo pensioner Tom Niland
He said: “There has been a small bit of progress in that he’s conscious.
“He is responding to people, to the nurses and so on. He opened only one of his eyes as the other is damaged and he will probably never see out of it again.
“It is a miracle recovery and it’s a miracle he’s still alive. The fact Tom has got this far is brilliant.”
Michael, who regards Tom as a brother and visits him almost every day, added there are signs the popular farmer can make even further progress.
He said: “I say to him, ‘Can you hear me Tom?’ and he nods.
“But I have said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ and there’s nothing from him.
“I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t know who I am yet or if the eye is injured so bad that he can’t see anything properly.”
Yet Michael says Tom’s progress is all the more remarkable as just weeks ago the family were getting ready for the possibility of turning off his life support.
He recalled: “We were on the brink. We were being told they had to do one last test to establish brain stem activity but we were at the stage of agreeing or not, but generally agreeing that they turn off the life support.
“Now we’re at the stage where he’s quite conscious and aware of his surroundings.”
Tom is being treated at Galway Hospital - but doctors are set to allow him to move back to Sligo hospital in the near future.
Last month a judge set bail at €11,500 with strict conditions for two of the men charged in connection with aggravated burglary.
Mayo men John Clarke, 33, of Carrowkelly, Ballina, Francis Harmon, 54, of Nephin Court in the town and 28-year-old John Irving, 28, of Shanwar, Foxford were all charged before Sligo District Court.
READ MORE: Family of Sligo attack victim were about to turn off life support when they got surprising result
READ MORE: Sligo attack victim Tom Niland 'may not even know his own name' if he emerges from coma
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