Ireland Case No. 4925Murder · Co. Dublin · 22 Feb 2022
Diarmuid Phelan murder trial hears witness account of fatal shooting in Tallaght
Diarmuid Phelan, a senior counsel and law professor, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Keith Conlon, who was shot on a farm in Tallaght, Co Dublin, in February 2022. Phelan has pleaded not guilty, and the trial has heard a witness account of the shooting.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court14 Oct
6 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports63 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDiarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty to the murder of a man in Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDiarmuid Phelan is on trial for the murder of Keith Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPhelan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatConlon died at Tallaght University Hospital two days after the shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDiarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe charge states the offence took place at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting took place on a farm in Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe farm is Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting happened at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe charge states the offence took place on 24 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have happened on 24 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe shooting took place on February 22nd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr Conlon was pronounced dead on February 24th. (irishtimes.com)
- whenConlon was seriously injured in the shooting on February 22, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMr Conlon was shot on February 22 and died two days later. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKeith Conlon was one of three trespassers on the farm on February 22nd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMr Conlon was one of three trespassers engaged in fox hunting on the farm. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMr Phelan allegedly shot a dog belonging to one trespasser, Kallum Coleman. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMr Conlon was critically injured after being shot on the farm two days earlier. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA third shot penetrated Mr Conlon's body, according to the prosecution's case. (irishtimes.com)
- causePhelan told gardai he became concerned about a dog running loose on his land towards his sheep. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe prosecution says the third shot was fired at the deceased, who was shot in the back of the head as he turned to leave. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Phelan told gardaí he fired a revolver in the air over the men's heads. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe prosecution contends Phelan shot a dog belonging to one trespasser, Kallum Coleman. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution contends a third shot penetrated Conlon's body. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponPhelan reached for a Smith & Wesson revolver from his pocket and fired. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was a Smith & Wesson revolver. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponPhelan fired two shots into the air from his revolver. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMr Phelan told gardaí he believed the man would have got him if he had not reacted immediately. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda photographer photographed implements, including shovels, hoes and a pickaxe, on the farm. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA farmhand who witnessed the incident testified that Phelan fired three shots in very quick succession. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution played the first of three 999 calls made by Mr Phelan at 1.05pm on February 22. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPhelan told gardaí he believed he would have been shot if he had not reacted immediately and that he was terrified. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePhelan was charged with murdering Keith Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePhelan has pleaded not guilty to murder. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMr Phelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePhelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was due to open on Tuesday before a jury and Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of eight men and four women was sent away until Tuesday, and the trial is likely to last six weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was due to open at the Central Criminal Court and the prosecution opening was deferred to Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last six weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence case is that Mr Phelan was entitled to discharge his firearm and that it was self-defence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA farm worker told the court he saw Mr Phelan fire two shots into the air and a third shot in the direction of a man. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe second day of the trial was on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Friday before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence says the penetration of Conlon's body was an accidental, unintended result. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court with a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution says the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe article reports on the third day of Phelan's trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was set to continue on Monday before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPhelan replied Not guilty when arraigned. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPhelan is a law professor at Trinity College Dublin and a senior counsel. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence told the jury panel that evidence may come from a dog warden, a pathologist in Northern Ireland and people from outside the jurisdiction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPhelan is aged 54 and is a senior counsel and law professor at Trinity College Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPhelan is a senior counsel and law professor at Trinity College Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConlon was critically injured and was pronounced dead two days later. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA witness told the court Phelan shot one of the men in the back as they ran away. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence case is that Phelan was entitled to discharge his firearm and it was a legitimate act of self-defence not done with intent to penetrate Conlon's body. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Oct2024‘There was a lot of fear’: Diarmuid Phelan trial hears from witness to fatal shooting
Covers the third day of the trial, including a farm worker's account of the shooting, the prosecution's case and Phelan's account to gardaí and his defence of self-defence.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon - 18 Oct2024Tears in court as murder trial hears 999 calls
Trial report from the court hearing. The article gives February 24, 2022 as the date of the murder in the charge and February 22 as the date of the shooting, and says Mr Conlon died two days after being shot.
victim, Keith Conlon, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlonaccused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelan - 17 Oct2024Barrister 'got pistol from pocket' and fired 3 shots at trespassers, court hears
Reports evidence from farmhand Pierre Godreu under cross-examination, including that Phelan fired three shots in quick succession and that Conlon was 'advancing' at the time. Also records the prosecution's account that the third shot was fired towards Conlon, and the defence position that the penetration was accidental.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon - 17 Oct2024Farm worker tells court he saw man fall to ground after shot was fired by law professor Diarmuid Phelan
Reports day two of the trial: evidence from a farm worker who said he saw the shooting, cross-examination by the defence, and a Garda photographer's evidence about implements found on the farm. Gives the prosecution and defence cases.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon - 15 Oct2024Murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan to open on Wednesday
First report on the trial: the prosecution opening was deferred to Wednesday after jury issues, and the trial is expected to last six weeks.
victim, Keith Conlon, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlonaccused, Diarmuid Phelan, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelan - 14 Oct2024Law professor Diarmuid Phelan pleads not guilty to murder of man in Co Dublin
Reports Phelan's not guilty plea at the Central Criminal Court, the charge text, the trial judge and the expected length of the trial (about six weeks). No existing case matches this incident.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon