Ireland Case No. 5371Murder · Co. Kerry · 5 Oct 2022
Sixth man convicted of murder of Thomas Dooley after Tralee funeral attack
On 5 October 2022, Tom Dooley, a 43-year-old Kerry father of seven, was attacked while attending a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee and died from sharp force injuries. Six men were accused of his murder, and the trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork began in early June. Between 23 and 25 July 2024, five of the accused were convicted, and on 25 July 2024 Danny Dooley, 42, was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority as the sixth of six accused, after which he protested his innocence. All six were remanded in custody, and sentencing was adjourned to 30 July 2024 to allow preparation of Victim Impact Statements.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted25 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Danny (also named Daniel) Dooley, 42, of Tralee, was convicted of murdering his cousin Tom (also named Thomas) Dooley, 43.
- Danny Dooley is the sixth of six accused to be convicted, and the men had denied the murder.
- Thomas Dooley was set upon in a violent and savage attack while attending a funeral at a graveyard in Tralee.
- Where
- The attack took place at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, although one source gives the location as New Rath Cemetery in Tralee.
- When
- The murder occurred on 5 October 2022.
- Cause
- Prosecution barristers claimed the victim died in an honour killing and that the men used medieval violence.
- The State Pathologist said the cause of death was sharp force injuries resulting in blood loss.
- Weapon
- The victim was attacked by a group of men armed with bladed weapons, and gardaí recovered a machete in grass next to the cemetery.
- Investigation
- The investigation was led by Det Supt Fergal Pattwell and Det Insp John Kelly.
- Charges
- Thomas Dooley Snr, 43, Thomas Dooley Jnr, 21, Patrick Dooley, 36, Michael Dooley, 29, and an unnamed teenager were convicted of the murder before Danny Dooley.
- In court
- The month-long trial began in early June before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
- The jury convicted Danny Dooley by an 11-to-1 majority after almost 21 hours of deliberations, on 25 July 2024.
- Sentence
- All six men were remanded in custody, and sentencing was adjourned to 30 July 2024 to allow preparation of Victim Impact Statements.
- Other details
- Danny Dooley protested his innocence after the conviction, and one headline reported that he shouted at the victim's widow.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDanny Dooley, 42, was convicted of the murder of his cousin Tom Dooley, 43. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDanny Dooley is the sixth of six accused to be convicted in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThomas Dooley was set upon in a violent and savage attack as he attended a funeral at a graveyard in Tralee. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 5 October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThomas Dooley was set upon at New Rath Cemetery in Tralee on October 5, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeProsecution barristers claimed Thomas Dooley died in an honour killing. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe State Pathologist said the cause of death was sharp force injuries resulting in blood loss. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThomas Dooley was attacked by a group of men armed with bladed weapons. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponGardaí recovered a machete in grass next to the cemetery. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was led by Det Supt Fergal Pattwell and Det Insp John Kelly. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury convicted Danny Dooley by an 11-to-1 majority after almost 21 hours of deliberations. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSentencing was adjourned to 30 July 2024 to allow preparation of Victim Impact Statements. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial began at the start of June and was presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDaniel Dooley was found guilty of murdering his cousin Thomas Dooley. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe verdict against Daniel Dooley was a majority verdict of eleven to one. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe convictions followed a month-long trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceAll six men were remanded in custody for sentencing on the Tuesday of the following week. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDaniel Dooley protested his innocence after conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jul2024Sixth man found guilty of 'honour killing' of father of seven in Kerry
Reports the conviction of Daniel Dooley, the sixth man found guilty, by a majority verdict of 11 to 1, and states that all six men were convicted and remanded for sentencing the following Tuesday.
victim, Thomas Dooley, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dooleyconvicted, Daniel Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Dooleyconvicted, Patrick Dooley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dooleyconvicted, Michael Dooley, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael 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 Jnr - 25 Jul2024‘Ye won’t get an hour of luck’: sixth man convicted of graveyard murder shouts at widow
Danny Dooley is the sixth of six accused to be convicted. The jury returned a guilty verdict by an 11-to-1 majority after almost 21 hours of deliberation. Sentencing is adjourned to 30 July 2024 to allow preparation of Victim Impact Statements.
victim, Tom Dooley, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Dooleyconvicted, Danny Dooley, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Dooley