Juvenile charged in connection with murder of Thomas Dooley at Tralee cemetery

Minor appeared at the juvenile court in Tralee charged with having in his possession in the cemetery 'an improvised weapon with a sharp blade' which it was alleged was intended to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate

Thomas Dooley, 20, at Tralee District Court on Wednesday. He is the third man to be charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley, 43.

A young person appeared at the juvenile court in Tralee on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the murder of Killarney man Thomas Dooley, 43. He is charged with having in his possession in the cemetery “an improvised weapon with a sharp blade” which it was alleged was intended to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate. 

The alleged offence is contrary Section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Detective Sergeant Mark O’Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

The detective said he had explained the charge to the juvenile in “ordinary language”, and cautioned him and had formally charged him in the presence of his mother at Tralee Garda Station at 3.19am.

The youth made no reply to the charge, Detective O'Sullivan said.

The State’s application was “to remand in custody”, Sergeant Miriam Mulhall Nolan said.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan outlined a number of reasons for objecting to bail.

The young man was arrested at Dublin Port after having been to the UK and there was a risk he would try to go again to the UK, the detective said.

Solicitor Aoife Buttimer said her client had no previous convictions, he was a minor and as this was an ongoing investigation, he could be “languishing in custody” for up to two years.

Her client enjoyed the presumption of innocence, she also said.

Judge David Waters said he would grant bail on very strict conditions, twice daily signing on at a Garda station, residing at his home, and a cash lodgement of €5,000 by an adult.

Thomas Dooley, a member of the Traveller community from Hazlewood Drive, Ballyspillane in Killarney, suffered fatal stab wounds when he was attacked in Rathass cemetery in Tralee on October 5. Picture: Facebook

All travel documents have to be surrendered, and there is to be no contact with witnesses direct or indirect, he is to provide a mobile phone number and “stay out of Kerry” except for court appearances and be in his home between 8pm and 8am.

Judge Waters remanded him in custody with consent to bail to next Wednesday’s sitting of Tralee District Court.

He granted the application for legal aid for the juvenile to the solicitor. The judge said nothing was to be published that would tend to identify the juvenile.

Third man charged

On Wednesday morning, a 20-year-old man appeared before Tralee District Court, charged with the murder of father of seven Thomas Dooley at a cemetery in Tralee last month.

Thomas Dooley, of Bay 10, Halting Site, Carrigrohane Road, Cork, is charged with the murder of 43-year-old Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5 last.

He is also charged with causing serious harm to Siobhan Dooley, wife of the deceased man.

Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson said Mr Dooley replied "No comment" to each of the two charges after formal caution when arrested at Tralee Garda Station at 3.09am on Wednesday morning.

An application for legal aid for Thomas Dooley, 20, who the court was told is unemployed, was made by his solicitor Aoife Buttimer. This was adjourned to allow a statement of means to be furnished.

Judge David Waters remanded Thomas Dooley in custody for a week for production of the book of evidence.

A second person, a teenager, is scheduled to appear at 2pm on Wednesday at Tralee District Juvenile Court in connection with the incident in the Tralee cemetery.

Two men, including a brother and a cousin of the deceased, have already been charged with the murder of Tomas Dooley.

Thomas Dooley, 20, who appeared on Wednesday morning, is also a relative of the deceased and is the third man to be charged with his murder.