Court told Dooley attacked with ‘murderous ferocity’

A trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court in Co Cork in which the prosecution alleges that a 42-year-old father-of-seven was murdered by a group of six people who included his brother and three of his first cousins.

Thomas Dooley died following an altercation at a funeral in Tralee, Co Kerry on 5 October 2022. His wife, Siobhán, was seriously injured in the same incident.

Thomas Dooley was described as a thoroughly decent man, a devoted and loving husband and father, who put his wife and children first.

The opening of the trial of six people – who are charged with his murder – was told by the prosecution that he died when he was attacked as he attended a funeral in Tralee on 5 October 2022.

He suffered what were described as savage injuries inflicted by a group acting with focused and “murderous ferocity”.

In an opening statement, the jury was told he suffered a 6.5cm stab wound to his back, which probably caused spinal shock, another 10.5cm stab wound to his thigh, which severed his femoral artery, and a chop wound to his right arm measuring 25cm.

Before the court are: 36-year old Patrick Dooley of 32 Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry; 43-year old Thomas Dooley senior, of Bay 10, Halting Site, Carrigrohane Road, Co Cork; 21-year old Thomas Dooley junior, of Bay 10, Halting Site, Carrigrohane Road, Co Cork; 29-year old Michael Dooley of Bay 11, Halting Site, Carrigrohane Road, Co Cork; and 42-year old Daniel Dooley, of An Caraigín, Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry.

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The sixth person is a teenager.

All six have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Dooley.

Thomas Dooley junior has also pleaded not guilty to causing serious harm to Siobhán Dooley in the same incident.

A jury of 13 men and two women has been sworn to hear the trial.

Prosecuting senior counsel Dean Kelly told the jury the Dooleys were a large traveller family.

He said Patrick Dooley was a younger brother of the deceased man, Thomas Dooley.

Mr Kelly also said Thomas Dooley senior, Michael Dooley and Daniel Dooley are brothers, and they are first cousins of the deceased, Thomas Dooley.

He said Thomas Dooley senior was also married to Noreen, a sister of the deceased man, and he was therefore a brother-in-law of both the deceased, Thomas Dooley, and of Patrick Dooley.

Mr Kelly said the degree of prejudice that exists in relation to the traveller community in this country was always “an elephant in the room”.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had no interest in a verdict influenced by prejudice.

“Prejudice has no place in this case,” Mr Kelly said.

He told the jury to leave sympathy, prejudice and emotions outside the door when they come to court.

Mr Kelly told the jury it could not be said that Thomas Dooley had offered the slightest insult or provocation, or opened his mouth or raised his hand.

He said he was attacked with violence and ferocity by a group who were armed with bladed weapons and had inflicted grievous injuries on him.

Mr Kelly’s opening statement took almost an hour to deliver.

Afterwards, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the case, warning jurors not to discuss it with others and not to search for it on social media.

The trial will resume tomorrow.