Kerry murder trial hears second day of blood and DNA evidence

Evidence was also given on Friday of the arrest for questioning of two of the accused

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

Blood samples taken by investigators into the fatal attack on a father-of-seven in a graveyard in Tralee in October 2022 were at the centre of the evidence on the 19th day of the murder trial on Friday.

All six of the accused deny 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 Sr, 43, from the halting site, Carrigrohane Road; Thomas Jr., 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 Jr faces the second charge that he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Siobhán Dooley, the wife of the deceased man. He also denies this count.

Blood and DNA evidence

Ms Sandra McGrath of Forensic Science Ireland gave evidence in relation to her analysis of items presented by investigating garda officers. She commenced with the results of her analysis of clothing of Thomas Dooley Sr. 

Black jeans contained blood stains on the shin area of the right front leg and this blood matched the DNA of the deceased. A pair of runners, also from Thomas Dooley Sr, had a blood stain on the toe of the left runner which was found to be that of the deceased also. Thomas Dooley Sr’s navy jumper had a blood stain which was found to be his own blood.

A retractable blade knife belonging to Thomas Dooley Sr had no blood staining. Ms McGrath agreed with prosecution senior counsel Dean Kelly that no conclusions could be drawn in respect of that item.

Vehicles that were deemed to be of interest in the investigation were examined and swabs for suspected blood stains were presented for analysis. Ms McGrath testified that a swab from the front by the sliding door of the grey Ford Transit van contained blood that matched the profile of Thomas Dooley Jr.

Swabs from the glove box, sliding door frame and rear door had blood stains that matched for Thomas Dooley Sr. Mr Kelly said that swabs from the sliding door contained blood that definitely was not linked to the dead man.

Blood on the gearstick of the white Renault van were a DNA match for Patrick Dooley, Ms McGrath said. She confirmed that blood staining on a child’s seat was definitely not that of the deceased.

Blood on the path from Rathass cemetery to the Mace shop across the road matched that of injured party Siobhán Dooley, widow of the deceased in this case.

Dublin Port arrests

Evidence was also given on Friday of the arrest for questioning of Thomas Dooley Jr and the teenager — both of whom are on trial for murder. 

Immigration officers, Garda Conor Fox and Garda Robert Stokes of Store Street garda station were on duty shortly after 1am on November 15, 2022, at Dublin Port when they stopped a jeep towing a caravan. The driver was Thomas Dooley Jr, the back-seat passenger was the teenager, and there was a woman who was not of interest to gardaí in the investigation. 

Thomas Dooley Jr and the teenager were arrested, taken to Store Street garda station and then transported to Tralee garda station.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the jury which consists of 14 members, including two substitute members — 12 men and two women — to return to the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork at 2pm on Monday, July 1, for the resumption of evidence.