Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7452Murder · Co. Kerry · 5 Oct 2022

Man convicted of Tom Dooley murder loses Court of Appeal bid

On 5 October 2022 Thomas "Tom" Dooley was murdered at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry, during a funeral. Daniel Dooley, 45, of Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, pleaded not guilty and was convicted of murder by a majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in July 2024, one of six family members jailed. On 3 June 2026 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, which argued that the victim's widow's identification was unfair and that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Thomas "Tom" Dooley was murdered during a funeral.
  • Daniel Dooley, 45, of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, was convicted of murdering Thomas Dooley.
  • Daniel Dooley was one of six family members found guilty of the murder, and the group included a teenage boy.
Where
The murder took place at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry.
When
The murder took place on 5 October 2022.
Charges
Daniel Dooley was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty.
In court
  • The trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
  • Daniel Dooley was convicted by a majority jury verdict in July 2024.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Daniel Dooley's appeal, with Judge Nuala Butler giving the judgment, as reported on 3 June 2026.
Sentence
Daniel Dooley was jailed along with five other family members; the sources do not give the length of sentence.
Investigation
  • The victim's widow identified Daniel Dooley, and the other witnesses and the widow were cross-examined at trial.
  • Apart from the widow's identification, the evidence against Daniel Dooley was circumstantial, according to the Court of Appeal judge.
Other details
  • The Court of Appeal judge said circcircumstantial evidence did not necessarily mean the evidence was tenuous, weak, vague or inconsistent.
  • Daniel Dooley's appeal argued that the widow's identification was unfair and that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury.
4 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDaniel Dooley, 45, of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, was convicted of murdering Thomas Dooley. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDooley was one of six defendants, including a teenage boy, found guilty of murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder took place on 5 October 2022 at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man convicted in Thomas ‘Tom’ Dooley murder trial loses appeal bid

    The Court of Appeal dismissed Daniel Dooley's appeal, rejecting the argument that the victim's widow's identification was unfair and that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury. The conviction from July 2024 stands.

    victim, Thomas Dooley, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooleyconvicted, Daniel Dooley, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Dooley