Courts / Kerry / Report

'Butchered' dad-of-seven's last act to tell wife to save herself, court hears as five life sentences handed down

Date
2024-07-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tralee

County
Kerry

Summary

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring handed down five life sentences at the Central Criminal Court to family members convicted of murdering Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The defendants, including Patrick Dooley, Thomas Dooley Senior, Thomas Dooley Junior, Michael Dooley, and Daniel Dooley, had all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The judge described the killing as an "honour killing" involving "medieval violence" and noted that no explanation for the death had been proffered. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for this offence, backdated from his custody on November 16, 2022, with the term running concurrently to his life sentence. The life sentences for the five adults were backdated to their respective custody dates. A sixth defendant, a male teenager, was not sentenced today as he is expected to seek a judicial review; his matter was adjourned for a mention on October 29. The court heard a victim impact statement from Siobhán Dooley, who stated her husband's last act was telling her to run to save herself. The judge emphasized that the only innocents were the victim, his wife, and their children.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Butchered' dad-of-seven's last act to tell wife to save herself, court hears as five life sentences handed down. Charges or matters: murdering Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on October 5, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 5, 2022 Incident
November 16, 2022 Incident
October 29 Hearing Or Sentence
June 1998 Other
February 2022 Other
November 2019 Other
October 7, 2022 Incident
April 16 Incident
July 28, 2023 Incident
2024-07-30 Publication

Case subjects

Thomas Dooley

Applicant

Charges: murdering Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on October 5, 2022 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: He was jailed for four-and-a half years today in respect of this offence and it was backdated from when he went into custody on November 16, 2022. The sentence for assault causing harm will run concurrently to the life sentence imposed today.