Off-duty gardaí in Cork city punched repeatedly by topless men

Two of the men involved have since been convicted of murder at a Kerry cemetery

The two gardaí identified themselves but this did not deter the attackers.

Two off-duty members of An Garda Síochána were attacked by three men who assumed the stance of boxers as they stripped to the waist and punched them repeatedly on a night out in Cork city.

Sergeant Eamon Feehan said the two gardaí identified themselves as gardaí but this did nothing to deter the attackers.

Sgt Feehan said at the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that other than putting up their hands to defend themselves, the off-duty gardaí did not fight in any way with the three assailants during the incident covered by CCTV.

The violent incident occurred on December 6, 2021. Two of those involved in causing harm to the gardaí have since been convicted of murder. They murdered Thomas Dooley, aged 43, at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022 — ten months after the incident in Cork city centre for which they now face sentencing.

One of those two men cannot be identified as he was 16 at the time of the assaults causing harm in Cork city and 17 at the time of the Tralee murder.

The other man involved in both incidents was Thomas Dooley of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, who is now aged 22.

The third man — Patrick Dooley — had nothing to do with the incident in Tralee and was only ever convicted once for a minor public order incident.

Patrick Dooley, aged 19, of Bay 3, halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, also faces sentencing for his part in assault causing harm to the two off-duty gardaí, Garda Barry O’Shea and Garda Keith Cahill at Oliver Plunkett St on December 6, 2021.

Sergeant Feehan said: that when the injured parties identified themselves as gardaí, Thomas Dooley said to them: “Ye throw the first punch.” 

Sgt Feehan testified “They committed the assaults with great enthusiasm, removing their tops and taking boxer stances during the attack.” 

Patrick Dooley was remanded on bail by Judge Helen Boyle for sentencing on May 15. The other two accused, who are serving sentences for the Tralee murder, will also be sentenced on that day.