Courts / Kerry / Report
'Honour killing' convict was misidentified at trial, lawyers claim
Summary
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeal against the murder convictions of Michael Dooley, Thomas Dooley Jnr, and Patrick Dooley. The three men, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty by a jury in 2024 of murdering Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery in County Kerry on October 5, 2022. Prosecutors alleged the attack was an 'honour killing' carried out with 'focused and murderous ferocity' using bladed weapons. All three appellants received life sentences from Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring in July 2024. During the appeal, counsel for Michael Dooley argued he was misidentified and the case should have been withdrawn from the jury. Counsel for Thomas Dooley Jnr contended his arrest was unlawful, while Patrick Dooley's lawyers challenged the admission of evidence regarding a weapon. The DPP countered that circumstantial evidence, including CCTV of vehicles fleeing the scene and the discovery of Michael Dooley in a van, supported the convictions. The court heard that the misidentification issue was extensively addressed in the trial judge's directions. The matter was adjourned as the court reserved judgment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Honour killing' convict was misidentified at trial, lawyers claim. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 5, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 30, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2025 Incident
- 2026-01-13 Publication
Why: by Fiona Magennis Lawyers for a man appealing his conviction for the murder of Thomas 'Tom' Dooley in an 'honour killing' during a funeral in County Kerry have argued the case should have been withdrawn from the jury because he was "misidentified as a person who was at the violent attack". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: On the first day of the appeal hearing yesterday, Thomas Dooley Jnr's barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that his arrest and detention by gardaí was unlawful, while Patrick Dooley's senior counsel Michael O'Higgins contended that a "leading question" put to a witness about a sword or machete allegedly held by Patrick should not have been permitted into evidence at the men's trial. The youth, who was a juvenile when the attack on Thomas Dooley took place, was sentenced following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling which held that life sentences for a child convicted of murder should only be imposed in exceptional cases where the evidence showed the intentions and actions of the child were akin to those of an adult.
Convicted Person
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: On the first day of the appeal hearing yesterday, Thomas Dooley Jnr's barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that his arrest and detention by gardaí was unlawful, while Patrick Dooley's senior counsel Michael O'Higgins contended that a "leading question" put to a witness about a sword or machete allegedly held by Patrick should not have been permitted into evidence at the men's trial.
Places mentioned
- Carrigrohane Road
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Supreme Court
- Cork
- Cork Courthouse
Topics
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