Five men convicted of murdering Thomas Dooley in Kerry graveyard sentenced to life in prison

Thomas Dooley was murdered at Rath Cemetery in Tralee during a funeral service there. Picture via Facebook

Life sentences for murder were imposed on Tuesday 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 a 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 on Tuesday 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 the way he was murdered was something that should happen to nobody and 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 on Tuesday.

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

Earlier in the trial, the jury of 10 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 Jnr 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 on Tuesday 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 Snr grinning as they approached the deceased to carry out the attack. She told her husband to run and he said to her 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.