GARDAI HUNT ASSOCIATE OF STABBED DAD

Man in 40s murdered and wife hurt at funeral of family friend

- MICHAEL O’TOOLE

GARDAI have a prime suspect for the brutal murder of Tommy Dooley at the funeral of a family friend yesterday.

Mr Dooley was stabbed to death in the attack in Tralee, Co Kerry, that also saw his wife Siobhan seriously injured.

The couple, from Killarney, were in Rathass Cemetery for the interring of friend Bridget O’Brien’s coffin following requiem mass when they were both knifed at around 11.45am.

The cemetery is just yards from University Hospital Kerry and Mr Dooley, who was in his 40s, was rushed there but medics could not save him.

His wife was in the same hospital last night after she received serious injuries in the attack, which is believed to have been witnessed by a large number of mourners.

A man known to the couple fled the scene shortly after the attack and gardai were hunting for him last night.

It’s understood that man and others had been in dispute with Mr Dooley over personal issues for a number of years.