The annual report of Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) highlighted the work the national organisation undertakes and the key role it plays in investigating crime.
Forensic investigations led by the organisation involve the examination of items recovered from crime scenes and the use of various techniques to investigate links between suspects and victims, and between suspects and scenes.
The 2024 annual report highlighted its role in two Kerry cases – the murder of Thomas Dooley at a Kerry graveyard and the seizure of Ireland’s largest every crystal meth haul.
Mr Dooley was fatally stabbed, and his wife, Siobhan Dooley, was seriously injured, while attending a funeral in Rathass Cemetery, Tralee on the October 5, 2022.
The FSI said it was one of the most complex cases encountered by FSI in recent times involving a large number of staff, including staff from the DNA and Biological Analysis and Physical Analysis sections of FSI.
A current FSI scientist, a former FSI scientist and a seconded Garda member presented forensic evidence at the trial last year. Their testimony included cross examination by six defence barristers.
Outlining their involvement in the case, FSI said samples from the scene were analysed.
“It involved five individuals bleeding and forensic examination of many different sides of the case including: samples from the deceased, samples from Siobhan Dooley, a machete and other items from the scene, clothing from six suspects and items from four vehicles.
“Significant forensic findings were obtained including bloodstaining, with a DNA profile matching that of the deceased, on the clothing and/or footwear of three of the accused. In addition, a DNA profile matching one of the accused was obtained from the fingernails of Siobhan Dooley,” the report stated.
In June 2024, six men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork, five charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley and one charged with assault causing serious harm to Siobhan Dooley.
The jury convicted five men of the murder of Thomas Dooley and one man was convicted of assault causing harm to Siobhan Dooley.
The trial judge, Justice Mary Ellen Ring, praised the quality and resourcing of this investigation, including the contribution of FSI.
FSI also outlined its role in the State’s largest ever crystal meth seizure which was ultimately linked to Ballyseedy Garden Centre. The case has since been before the Special Criminal Court with Tralee man Nathan McDonnell receiving a 12-year sentence for his role in the importation of the drug.
FSI said its laboratory received a request from Customs Officers at the Port of Cork to analyse a sample of a crystalline substance from a large seizure on February 16, 2024.
A sample of this substance was delivered to the laboratory on the same day and an urgent analysis confirmed the substance contained methylamphetamine (also known as methamphetamine) and commonly known as crystal meth.
A joint operation at Port of Cork between An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service had uncovered a number of packages containing a substantial quantity of this crystalline substance in a container.
It is believed that the drugs were imported from Mexico and stored at a garden centre in Kerry, before being transported to Cork, where they were destined for export to Australia, the report stated.
The FSI were further involved in the case when on April 2, 2024 Drug Forensic Scientists attended a secure location where they met with members of An Garda Síochána and Customs to allow examination of the packages seized at the scene.
The laboratory reported a total of 547 plastic packages which held an estimated 540 kilograms of crystalline substance. A number of packages were submitted to the lab for analysis and these were found to contain methylamphetamine.