Doctor at Kerry murder trial recalls woman's distress at hearing her husband had passed away

Dr Essa told the court that an injury to Siobhán Dooley's back was a clean cut that must have been caused by something very sharp

Thomas Dooley (left) and his wife Siobhan. The Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork heard how Siobhan had to be sedated to calm her down after hearing of her husband's death.

The moment that a mother of seven was told in hospital in Tralee that her husband Tom Dooley was dead was recalled by a doctor on Friday in his evidence at the murder trial taking place at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

Dr Muhammad Essa, registrar at University Hospital Kerry, responded to a call in Tralee from a resuscitation unit treating patient Siobhán Dooley who had a long and deep injury across her back.

“We told her of the passing of her husband. She was very distressed. She was very sad. We had to give her some sedation to calm her down. A young girl came in. They were crying — kind of shouting,” Dr Essa testified.

Five men and a teenager charged with the murder of 43-year-old Tom Dooley at a funeral in Tralee in October 2021 are on trial.

Each of the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 43-year-old Tom Dooley from Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5, 2022.

Five defendants in the case — all with the surname Dooley — Patrick, 36, from Arbutus Grove, Killarney; Thomas, 43, from the halting site, Carrigrohane Road; Thomas Jnr, 21, from the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork; Michael, 29, of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, and Daniel, 42, of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, County Kerry, are on trial, as is the sixth defendant who is a teenager.

Only 21-year-old Thomas Dooley Jnr faces the second charge that he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Siobhán Dooley, the wife of the deceased man. He has pleaded not guilty plea in respect of this count also.

Thomas Dooley who was fatally wounded at an incident at Rath Cemetery in Tralee during a funeral service there. Picture via Facebook

In respect of Mrs Dooley’s treatment in hospital in Tralee that day, Dr Essa said nurses were dealing with the patient’s vital signs when he arrived, after being told there was a patient with a serious injury.

“I saw a wound about 30 cm long. It was deep. It was deep to the layer under the skin. There was no major artery spraying blood. It was just blood coming from the wound,” he said.

Dr Essa said it was a clean cut that must have been caused by something very sharp. He applied 45 stitches and 30 surgical staples to the wound, explaining to the jury that staples were stronger and held faster.

Dr Martin Boyd, consultant in emergency medicine who also dealt with the patient, agreed with prosecution senior counsel Dean Kelly that any stab wound can be a lottery in terms of the severity of the injury and whether a vital organ was struck or narrowly avoided.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the jury to return to the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Monday, June 17, for what will be the 10th day at hearing. The jury, including three substitute members, consists of 13 men and two women.