Jury in Kerry murder trial stood down for day as lawyers deal with issues in their absence

The jury in the trial of the five men and a teenager charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley in a Tralee cemetery in October 2022 will return on Friday

The late Thomas Dooley  and his wife Siobhan.

The prosecution case against five men and a teenager charged with the murder of a father of seven at a funeral in Tralee went into its 13th day on Thursday as lawyers dealt with issues in the absence of the jury.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork to return for the resumption of the evidence before them on Friday. The jury, including three substitute members, consists of 13 men and two women.

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, Co 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 in respect of this count also.

Earlier this week, state pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis testified, “In my opinion, Thomas Dooley’s death was due to sharp force injuries resulting in blood loss (haemorrhage), hypovolaemic shock and cardiorespiratory arrest.”