During the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a law professor implicated in a murder case over a fatal shooting incident at his Tallaght farm more than two years ago, the jury was present to view dashcam and cellular footage from the incident day. Diarmuid Phelan is charged with the alleged murder of an unarmed trespasser. Garda Dara Kelly, assigned to the Tallaght Garda station, conveyed to prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC that he had analysed video footage taken from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that was seized from the farm premises.
Diarmuid Phelan, aged 56, has proclaimed his innocence regarding the murder of Keith Conlon, who was 36 years old, at the address of Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on the date of 24th February, 2022. Hailing from Kiltalown Park, also in Tallaght, Keith Conlon was killed by gunshot on February 22nd and eventually lost his life at Tallaght University hospital two days subsequently.
The jury was shown seven sections of video footage, aggregating to 12 minutes, six parts of which originate from an ATV dashcam. Garda Kelly explained that the mobile phone footage was filmed on Mr Conlon’s personal device. The video shows a man donned in a reflective jacket, a snood and dark trousers, identified by the jury as Mr Phelan. The footage subsequently includes a shot dog and a man, presumably attending to the wounded animal.
The Garda reports that Mr Phelan could be seen with a firearm slung over his shoulder and that the footage captured a “verbal altercation” between the accused Mr Phelan and Mr Conlon. According to Roisin Lacey’s introduction, a fervent verbal dispute occurred between Diarmuid Phelan and the intruding parties after he fired at one of their dogs. The trial is expected to proceed on Tuesday. Stay tuned to our Inside Politics podcast for comprehensive political debates and analysis.