SLASH PROBE 

Tralee funeral stabbing victim knew killer as Gardai make terrifying discovery left at scene by attackers

• 7:00, 6 Oct 2022

A MAN was stabbed to death and his wife was last night fighting for her life after being attacked at a Traveller’s funeral.

Tom Dooley, in his 40s, was knifed in front of shocked innocent mourners at New Rath cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry yesterday morning.

The Killarney man was attacked after being approached by a group of males while attending a local young woman’s funeral.

His wife Siobhan, also in her 40s, suffered a number of stab wounds after trying to intervene and is in a critical condition at Kerry University Hospital.

Cops found slash hooks, knives and machetes at the scene.

Sources said Tom apparently knew his killer and his death may have resulted from a dispute.

Gardai were notified and were quickly on the scene shortly after the stabbing at around midday.

Officers put the cemetery and nearby areas into lockdown.

Paramedics desperately fought to resuscitate Tom but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

They also attended to his wife, managing to stabilise her before rushing her to the hospital.

The State Pathologist has been notified and an autopsy is due to take place on his body.

He was attending the funeral of mum-of-five Bridget O’Brien, who died suddenly on October 2.

She was being buried in the cemetery following requiem mass in St John’s Church, Tralee.

The Garda investigation will focus on what happened in the cemetery after the mass.

They are investigating whether there was any bad blood between Tom and his attackers prior to yesterday’s horrific attack.

Following the stabbing gardai ­conducted searches of a number of homes and individuals were arrested over other matters.

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The scene at the cemetery has been preserved and is being extensively examined by Garda forensic and technical teams.

Cops are thought to be following a definitive line of inquiry.

Officers are collecting CCTV ­footage from the area and say they are awaiting the results of the postmortem examination.

Numerous tributes have been posted on social media from ­family members and friends.

One post on Facebook said “Tom, Killarney won’t be the same without you. Get the best bed up there and look down on your family at this time.”

Another friend called Tom a “big, ­gentle giant” while one pal said he was the “most harmless man you could talk to”.

One more posted: “RIP Tom Dooley, a true friend. I just don’t know what to say, you had a heart of gold. I really can’t put into words, its so hard to lose someone you love.”