Courts / Kerry / Report

'Biblical atrocity': Funeral 'honour killing' as 'tragic as it was stupid', State tells murder trial jury

Date
2024-07-04

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tralee

County
Kerry

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing in Cork, the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Dean Kelly SC, presented the State's case against six men accused of murdering Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, 43, during a funeral in Tralee on 5 October 2022. Kelly described the attack as a "biblical atrocity" and an "honour killing" triggered by a broken teenage relationship. He detailed that Dooley suffered four stab wounds, one severing the femoral artery, and a chop wound to the arm, leading to fatal blood loss. The accused, including Patrick Dooley (36), Thomas Dooley Senior (43), Thomas Dooley Junior (21), Michael Dooley (29), Daniel Dooley (42) and a teenager, all pleaded not guilty. Kelly argued the case rested on joint enterprise, noting the weapons were brought to the cemetery and the assault was carried out with "absolute ferocity" in seconds. He urged the jury to focus on the evidence presented. The trial continues with defence counsel's closing speech scheduled for the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Biblical atrocity': Funeral 'honour killing' as 'tragic as it was stupid', State tells murder trial jury. Charges or matters: murdering 43-year-old Mr Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on October 5, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

5 October Incident
October 5, 2022 Incident
2024-07-04 Publication

Why: Mr Kelly suggested the motive in the case was 'reasonably clear' and submitted it was because of an unhappy end to a childish relationship, where two teenagers were going out together and the relationship had broken down. CNI source report