Ireland Case No. 4807Murder · Co. Dublin · 24 Feb 2022
Jury in murder trial of Diarmuid Phelan sent away overnight
Diarmuid Phelan, a 56-year-old law professor, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith Conlon, a 36-year-old man, at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Co Dublin. Conlon was one of three trespassers fox hunting on the farm on 22 February 2022 and died two days after being shot; sources give 24 February 2022 as the date of the alleged murder. Gardaí arrested Phelan and took him to Tallaght Garda Station, and the trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury. On the eleventh day of the trial, Thursday 31 October 2024, the jury was sent away until Friday because there was no work for them that day.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Oct
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Keith Conlon, a 36-year-old man, was one of three trespassers fox hunting on Phelan's farm.
- Diarmuid Phelan, a 56-year-old law professor, is charged with Conlon's murder.
- Where
- The shooting happened at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Co Dublin.
- When
- Conlon was shot on 22 February 2022 and was pronounced dead two days later.
- Sources differ on the dates: one gives 22 February 2022 as the shooting date and another gives 24 February 2022 as the date of the alleged murder.
- Cause
- The prosecution says Phelan shot a dog belonging to one trespasser, after which exchanges with the trespassers followed.
- The prosecution says Phelan fired two shots into the air and a third shot penetrated Conlon's body, hitting him in the back of the head as he had turned to leave.
- Weapon
- Gardaí made safe a Smith & Wesson revolver from which three bullets had been fired and seized a camouflage hunting rifle with a telescopic sight and silencer from the farmhouse.
- Investigation
- Gardaí received a call at about 1.13pm about intruders at the farm and a dog being shot.
- Garda Kevin Curran said Phelan told him 'I did' when asked who shot Conlon, and Phelan told gardaí he reached for his revolver and fired in the air because he was terrified.
- Phelan was arrested and taken to Tallaght Garda Station.
- Charges
- Phelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon.
- In court
- The trial is before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women at the Central Criminal Court, and the jury was shown both firearms on day nine.
- The defence says the firing was legitimate self-defence, while the State says the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury; Sgt Simon Whelan was cross-examined on day ten, and the jury was sent away on day eleven until Friday.
51 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA law professor told a garda that he shot a trespasser on his farm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Conlon was one of three trespassers on the farm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Conlon was pronounced dead two days after being shot. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDiarmuid Phelan has denied the murder of a trespasser on his Co Dublin farm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe prosecution says Phelan shot a dog belonging to one of the trespassers. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKeith Conlon, aged 36, was one of three trespassers fox hunting on the farm on 22 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting happened at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting took place at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe victim was one of three trespassers fox hunting on the farm on February 22nd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe trespassers were fox hunting on the farm on February 22nd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr Conlon was seriously injured in the shooting on 22 February 2022 and died two days later. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have happened on 24 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution contends that Phelan shot a dog belonging to one trespasser. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution contends that Phelan fired two shots into the air and a third shot hit Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecution says Mr Phelan shot a dog belonging to one trespasser, after which exchanges with the trespassers followed. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA third shot penetrated Mr Conlon's body. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMr Conlon was shot in the back of the head when he had turned away to leave, according to the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA third shot penetrated Mr Conlon's body and he was pronounced dead two days later. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí made safe a Smith & Wesson revolver from which three bullets had been fired. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí also seized a camouflage hunting rifle with a telescopic sight and silencer from the farmhouse. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponMr Phelan fired two shots into the air from his revolver. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponPhelan said he reached for his Smith & Wesson revolver and fired in the air. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponPhelan later fired two shots into the air from a revolver. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPhelan told a garda that he shot Keith Conlon, and he said “I did.” (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPhelan told gardaí he was terrified and believed he would have been shot if he had not reacted. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí received a call about 1.13pm about intruders at the farm and a dog being shot. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPhelan was taken to Tallaght Garda Station after his arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPhelan told gardaí he believed he would have been shot if he had not reacted immediately. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePhelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMr Phelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Conlon. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePhelan pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury was shown both firearms on the ninth day of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution says the defence case is that Phelan's firing of the gun was legitimate self-defence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSgt Whelan was cross-examined on the 10th day of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThursday was the eleventh day of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was sent away until the next day because there was no work for them that day. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial resumes before the jury on Friday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial continues on the following Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSgt Whelan agreed Mr Conlon was convicted of assaulting a garda when he was 23. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Conlon had become extremely violent during a 2010 arrest and kicked a Garda. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA trespasser declined to give a Garda statement because he was concerned he would be viewed as a rat. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe State says the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence is expected to say the penetration was an accidental, unintended result. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe trial is ahead of schedule and was hoped to finish within the six-week timetable. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution says it understands the defence case to be that the firearm discharge was self-defence. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Oct2024Jury in murder trial of law professor sent away until tomorrow
Reports day eleven of the trial, the prosecution and defence positions, and the jury being sent away until Friday. The article gives the trial timetable and the firearm details.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon - 30 Oct2024Diarmuid Phelan trial: Trespasser declined to give statement over 'rat' fears
Court report on the murder trial day three. It gives 22 February as the date of the shooting, while the plea reference says 24 February 2022, and 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 - 30 Oct2024Man shot on law professor’s farm convicted 12 years earlier of assaulting garda, murder trial told
Reports the 10th day of the trial, including cross-examination of Sgt Simon Whelan about Mr Conlon's 2010 conviction for assaulting a garda and the prosecution account of the shooting.
victim, Keith Conlon, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlonaccused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelan - 29 Oct2024Diarmuid Phelan trial: Law professor told garda he shot a man on his farm, jury told
Trial report from the ninth day of Phelan's murder trial, covering garda evidence of his admissions, the firearms found and the prosecution and defence positions.
accused, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Diarmuid Phelanvictim, Keith Conlon, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Conlon