Ireland Case No. 5429Murder; assault causing harm · Co. Kerry · 5 Oct 2022
Patrick Dooley found guilty of murder of Thomas Dooley in Tralee graveyard attack
A 43-year-old man, Thomas Dooley (reports differ, giving 42), was stabbed four times at a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on 5 October 2022, and died from blood loss after a wound severed his femoral artery. Six men were charged with his murder and pleaded not guilty. On 18 July 2024 a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork convicted Thomas Dooley Snr (43), Thomas Dooley Jnr (21) and a juvenile who cannot be named of murder, and Thomas Dooley Jnr was also convicted of assault causing harm to the victim's widow, Siobhán Dooley. On 19 July 2024 Patrick Dooley, the victim's brother, was found guilty of murder, and verdicts on Michael Dooley and Daniel Dooley were still awaited, with deliberations due to continue on Tuesday; no sentence has been reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 Jul
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Thomas Dooley, a father of seven, died after being attacked at a funeral; his age is reported as 43 in one source and 42 in another.
- He suffered four stabbing injuries, one of which severed the femoral artery in his leg and caused fatal blood loss.
- Siobhán Dooley, the victim's widow, had a wound from her right shoulder to her armpit that needed 45 stitches and 30 staples.
- Where
- The killing took place at Rath Cemetery, also called New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry.
- When
- The incident took place on 5 October 2022.
- Cause
- The State's case is that six men attacked Mr Dooley as he attended a funeral.
- Weapon
- The attackers were armed with bladed weapons, and a state pathologist said some injuries could have been caused by a machete-type weapon.
- Investigation
- A machete was recovered in grass adjacent to the cemetery.
- Charges
- Six accused, Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr, a juvenile, Patrick Dooley, Michael Dooley and Daniel Dooley (also reported as Danny Dooley), were charged with murder and pleaded not guilty.
- Thomas Dooley Jnr was also charged with assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley at Rath Cemetery on the same date, and denied the charge.
- In court
- The trial began on 4 June 2024 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork and ran for 35 days.
- On 18 July 2024 the jury unanimously convicted Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr and a juvenile of murder after deliberating for just over eight hours, which one source gives as eight hours and 18 minutes over two days.
- Thomas Dooley Jnr was also found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley.
- On 19 July 2024 Patrick Dooley, who is reported as aged 36 in one source and 39 in another, was found guilty of murder by unanimous verdict after over 12 hours of jury deliberation.
- Deliberations on Michael Dooley and Daniel Dooley were to continue on Tuesday.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been reported for any of the convicted defendants.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe deceased suffered four stabbing injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne stab wound severed the femoral artery in his leg, causing fatal blood loss. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe three convicted defendants had pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThomas Dooley Junior was also found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley at Rath Cemetery on the same date. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe widow sustained a wound from her right shoulder to her armpit requiring 45 stitches and 30 staples. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThree further defendants – Patrick Dooley (36), Michael Dooley (29) and Daniel Dooley (42) – are also charged with murdering Thomas Dooley and have pleaded not guilty. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution case is that Mr Dooley was violently attacked by six men at the funeral and suffered savage injuries inflicted by a group armed with bladed weapons. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe deceased suffered four stabbing injuries, one of which severed the femoral artery in his leg causing fatal blood loss. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSiobhan Dooley said her husband was attacked by a group of six armed men. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA stab wound on the back of the deceased was 5.8cm in length and over 6cm in depth, damaging the small bones in the spine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA chop wound on the right upper arm was 25.5cm in length, 5cm in width and 13cm in depth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Rath Cemetery in Tralee. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder took place at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on October 5th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe State's case is that Mr Dooley was attacked as he attended a funeral in Tralee. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe attackers were armed with bladed weapons. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponState pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis told the jury that some of the injuries could have been inflicted by a machete-type weapon. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA machete was recovered in grass adjacent to the cemetery. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe jury deliberated for eight hours and 18 minutes over two days and all verdicts were unanimous. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThomas Dooley Jnr was also charged with assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley at Rath Cemetery on the same date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThree accused were convicted of the murder of a father of seven at a funeral in Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury is to resume deliberations on Friday on three other accused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury took just over eight hours to convict three accused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThomas Dooley Jnr was found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial has run for 35 days. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll six accused had pleaded not guilty to murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court sitting at Cork Courthouse, Anglesea Street. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtPatrick Dooley was found guilty of murder by unanimous verdict after over 12 hours of jury deliberations. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork and began on 4 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThomas Dooley Snr, 43, and Thomas Dooley Jnr, 21, were found guilty of the murder the previous day. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA juvenile who cannot be named was also found guilty of the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThomas Dooley Jnr was found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhan Dooley. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSiobhán Dooley needed 45 stitches and 30 staples after a wound during the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPatrick Dooley was a brother of the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThomas Dooley Snr, Daniel Dooley and Michael Dooley were first cousins of the deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThomas Dooley Jnr was the son of co-accused Thomas Dooley Snr. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge told the jury there was no allegation that Mr Dooley was in possession of a bladed weapon or that he was involved in any violence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDr Essa gave Siobhan Dooley 45 stitches and 30 staples. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe deceased was buried at Clonminch Cemetery in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 13 October 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe deceased is survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThomas Dooley Snr was a brother-in-law and first cousin of the deceased, and Thomas Dooley Jnr was a second cousin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDeliberations on Michael Dooley and Daniel Dooley were to continue on Tuesday. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jul2024Brother found guilty of murder of father-of-seven in Kerry graveyard attack
Reports the guilty verdict for Patrick Dooley after over 12 hours of jury deliberations, and details the previous day's convictions of Thomas Dooley Snr, Thomas Dooley Jnr and a juvenile. Includes trial evidence from Siobhan Dooley, Dr Muhammad Essa, Sion O'Driscoll and State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis.
victim, Thomas Dooley, 42, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooleyvictim, Siobhan Dooley, 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 Jnrconvicted, maleaccused, Michael Dooley, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dooleyaccused, Daniel Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Dooley - 18 Jul2024Two men and teen found guilty in 'Kerry funeral honour killing' murder trial
Jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after eight hours and 18 minutes of deliberation over two days. Thomas Dooley Junior was also convicted of assault causing harm to the widow. Three further co-accused are still awaiting verdict.
victim, Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas 'Tom' Dooleyvictim, Siobhán Dooley, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhán 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, teens, maleaccused, Patrick Dooley, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyaccused, Michael Dooley, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dooleyaccused, Daniel Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Dooley - 18 Jul2024Three accused convicted of murder of father of seven in Kerry cemetery two years ago
Reports the Central Criminal Court conviction of three of six accused for murder and of Thomas Dooley Jnr for assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley. Jury deliberations on Patrick, Danny and Michael Dooley resume on Friday.
convicted, Thomas Dooley Snr, 43, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Snrconvicted, Thomas Dooley Jnr, 21, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooley Jnrconvictedaccused, Patrick Dooley, 39, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyaccused, Danny Dooley, 42, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Dooleyaccused, Michael Dooley, 29, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dooleyvictim, Thomas Dooley, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooleyvictim, Siobhán Dooley, irish (judged from name)Siobhán Dooley