'Unforgivable' says judge as five sentenced to life for murder of Thomas Dooley

Life sentences for murder were imposed today on five men of the Dooley name for murdering 43-year-old father of seven Tom Dooley – to whom they were all variously related - at the graveyard in Tralee in October 2022.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring said their murder of Thomas Dooley in front of his family while attending a funeral was unforgivable.

Siobhán Dooley described today how the murder of her husband before her eyes has affected her and her family in the days since October 5 2022. She said they had “no idea of the horror show” waiting when they arrived in the cemetery.

She said her late husband was a “pure softy” and that the way he was murdered was something that should happen to nobody and that certainly her beloved husband Thomas did not deserve it.

“I am lucky I have an amazing family and friends who have stood with me and the family,” Siobhán Dooley said today.

The 34-day trial ended last Thursday with the conviction of 42-year-old Daniel Dooley of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, County Kerry, for the murder. 

Earlier in the trial, the jury of ten men and two women delivered guilty verdicts on 29-year-old Michael Dooley, of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, Patrick Dooley, 36, from Arbutus Grove, Killarney – brother of the deceased, and on Thomas Dooley Sr, 43, and his son Thomas Dooley Jr, 21, both from the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork.

The mandatory life sentences were imposed on them by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for the murder 43-year-old Tom Dooley from Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5 2022. Thomas Jr. was additionally given a four-and-a-half-year concurrent sentence for assault causing harm to the dead man’s widow, Siobhán.

The teenager who was found guilty of murder was remanded in custody until October 29 for discussion of a legal issue regarding his sentencing.

Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson and prosecution senior counsel Dean Kelly today outlined the background to the murder, taking place less than a minute after the deceased entered the cemetery with his wife Siobhán and some of their children.

Her evidence was recalled of seeing her husband’s brother Patrick and his cousin Thomas senior grinning as they approached the deceased to carry out the attack. She told her husband to run and he said to her that he did nothing wrong and why should he run. 

She described all of the accused men gathering around her husband hitting him with everything they had, blood spurting everywhere. 

Their weapons included a knife, an axe and other implements both shiny and rusty. The 43-year-old father-of-seven died very soon afterwards.