Barrister sent for trial on shotgun murder rap

A BARRISTER has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering a man in a shooting on his farm.

Law professor Diarmuid Phelan (53) is charged with the murder of father-of-four Keith Conlon, who died in hospital two days after he was shot at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22.

Mr Conlon (35), a dog-breeder from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, died in hospital despite extensive efforts to save him.

Mr Phelan appeared again at Dublin District Court yesterday when Garda Sgt Michael McGrath served him with a book of evidence.

Judge Bryan Smyth told him he was being returned to the Central Criminal Court for trial, but a date has yet to be set.

Mr Phelan said “yes” when asked if he understood that he must notify the prosecution within 14 days if he intended to use an alibi.

Judge Smyth also ordered gardai to provide the defence with copies of interview videos.

Mr Phelan was released on bail a €100,000 bond with a range of conditions, including a

10pm to 8am curfew and an order to stay out of Tallaght and his tillage farm in

Wexford.

Curfew

Mr Phelan yesterday asked the court to change the curfew time to end at

7am instead and to allow him back on his farms.

He told the court that as a farmer and herd-owner, he had obligations and needed to be at his land to carry out fencing work. “This farm is my dream,” he said, adding that he had been “desperate” to get back there for months.

State counsel Jane McGowan BL said there were objections to the request.

Garda Sergeant McGrath told the court there was an arrangement with another farmer looking after Mr Phelan’s animals and contended that he did not need to be the farm.

Judge Smyth agreed to change the curfew hours and “temporary variations” to bail terms to allow short breaks within the State but refused to change the other conditions.