Ireland Case No. 5432Murder · Co. Kerry · 5 Oct 2002
Five men sentenced to life for murder at Tralee cemetery
Thomas Dooley, a 42-year-old man and father of seven, was killed at Rath Cemetery in Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on 5 October 2002 (reports also give 2022) during a funeral, attacked by a group armed with bladed weapons in what the prosecution described as an honour killing. Six men, including his brother Patrick Dooley, were convicted of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork in July 2024. On 30 July 2024, Ms Justice Ring sentenced five of the convicted men to life imprisonment, backdated to when they went into custody, while a convicted teenager was not yet sentenced. Thomas Dooley Jnr also received a concurrent four-and-a-half-year sentence for assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court20 Dec
- Convicted19 Jul
- Sentenced30 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Thomas Dooley, a 42-year-old man and father of seven, was killed during a funeral at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry.
- Siobhán Dooley, the victim's wife, sustained a wound from her right shoulder to her armpit requiring 45 stitches and 30 staples.
- When
- The murder took place on 5 October 2002, though some reports give the date as 5 October 2022.
- Cause
- The prosecution described the killing as an honour killing linked to a relationship that broke down.
- Weapon
- The victim was attacked by a group armed with bladed weapons.
- Charges
- Patrick Dooley, Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr, Danny Dooley, Michael Dooley, and a juvenile were charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley contrary to Common Law.
- In court
- The trial was heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
- A jury of 10 men and two women convicted all six defendants of murder after nearly 21 hours of deliberations in July 2024.
- Sentence
- Five men were sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Ring on 30 July 2024, backdated to when each went into custody.
- Thomas Dooley Jnr received a concurrent four-and-a-half-year sentence for assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley, backdated to 16 November 2022.
- Other details
- The convicted teenager was not sentenced and is due back before the court on 29 October.
- Danny Dooley and Michael Dooley are both cousins of the deceased.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatrick Dooley is 35 years old (thejournal.ie)
- whatSiobhan Dooley said she saw Patrick Dooley grin and produce a knife before her husband was attacked. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSiobhán Dooley sustained a wound from her right shoulder extending to her armpit during the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSiobhán Dooley required 45 stitches and 30 staples for her wound. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThomas Dooley was murdered during a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee. (thejournal.ie)
- wherePatrick Dooley lives at Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing happened at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 5 October 2022 (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on 5 October 2002. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution described the killing as an honour killing linked to a relationship that broke down. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe victim was attacked by a group armed with bladed weapons. (thejournal.ie)
- chargePatrick Dooley is charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley contrary to Common Law (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThomas Dooley Jnr was found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhan Dooley at Rath Cemetery on the same date. (thejournal.ie)
- courtPatrick Dooley was denied bail by the High Court on 26 October 2022 (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the bail appeal on 20 December 2022 (thejournal.ie)
- courtJustice John Edwards agreed with the High Court judge's concerns and said no conditions could satisfy him regarding granting bail (thejournal.ie)
- courtPatrick Dooley was found guilty of murder by a jury, becoming the fourth of six defendants convicted. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury consisted of 10 men and two women and deliberated for 12 hours and 26 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. (irishtimes.com)
- courtOn Thursday the jury found Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr and a juvenile guilty of the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThomas Dooley Jnr was also found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley at Rath Cemetery on the same date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case of Patrick Dooley was adjourned until 25 July for mention. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAfter nearly 21 hours of jury deliberations, six defendants were convicted by a jury of murder. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMs Justice Ring imposed the life sentences at Cork Courthouse. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceFive men were given life sentences. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe life sentences were backdated to when each defendant went into custody. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThomas Dooley Jnr was jailed for four and a half years for assault causing harm, backdated to 16 November 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe assault sentence runs concurrently with the life sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDanny Dooley and Michael Dooley are both cousins of the deceased, who was a father of seven. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe male teenager found guilty of murder was not sentenced and is due back before the court on 29 October. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jul2024Five men sentenced to life in prison for murder of Thomas Dooley in Co Kerry cemetery
Reports the life sentences for five convicted men, a four-and-a-half-year sentence for assault causing harm on Siobhan Dooley, and that the convicted teenager was not sentenced because he is believed to be seeking a judicial review.
victim, Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas 'Tom' Dooleyvictim, Siobhan Dooley, 45, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhan Dooleyconvicted, Patrick Dooley, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyconvicted, Thomas Dooley Senior, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Seniorconvicted, Thomas Dooley Junior, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Juniorconvicted, Michael Dooley, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dooleyconvicted, Daniel Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Dooleyconvicted, male - 19 Jul2024Man convicted of murder of his older brother during attack in Kerry graveyard
Reports the jury's verdict finding Patrick Dooley guilty of murder after 12 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation; notes that three other defendants (Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr and a juvenile) were found guilty the previous day, and that deliberations continue over Danny Dooley and Michael Dooley.
victim, Thomas Dooley, 42, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooleyvictim, Siobhan Dooley, 45, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhan Dooleyconvicted, Patrick Dooley, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyconvicted, Thomas Dooley Snr, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Snrconvicted, Thomas Dooley Jnr, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Jnraccused, Danny Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Dooleyaccused, Michael Dooley, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dooleyaccused, male - 20 Dec2022Man accused of brother's murder in Tralee cemetery fails to overturn bail refusal
Court of Appeal dismissed Patrick Dooley's appeal against bail refusal; Justice John Edwards agreed with the High Court's concerns about community risk and flight risk and said no conditions could satisfy him regarding granting bail.
accused, Patrick Dooley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyvictim, Thomas Dooley, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley