A Trinity law professor has been charged with the murder of a man last Tuesday.
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan is a barrister, Fellow of the College and a member of College Board, Trinity’s top decision-making body. He was Chair of the Fellows from 2015 to 2018.
He teaches in the fields of EU Law, jurisprudence and lawyering skills.
He has been charged with the murder of Keith Conlon, who was shot in the head on farmland at Hazel Grove last Tuesday afternoon. He was brought straight to hospital, where he died yesterday.
Phelan appeared in court this morning, where Detective Garda Michael McGrath gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, according to RTÉ News.
McGrath told the court that he arrested Phelan at 11.20pm last night. Phelan made no reply when he was charged with Conlon’s murder.
According to the Irish Independent, Conlon was never expected to survive the injuries which he suffered on Tuesday.
Conlon was shot at least three times in the incident which happened in a field in the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght, including once in the head.
The rural area is off the Blessington Road and is used for farming.
The Independent has reported that the main issue which investigators must decide is whether Phelan acted in self defence when he allegedly shot Conlon, after allegedly shooting dead his lurcher dog.
At least five people were present when the shooting happened and gardai have taken statements from a number of witnesses.
The dog was allegedly shot dead by Phelan and officers recovered the body of the animal on Tuesday night.
A legally held handgun was used in the shooting and this weapon has been recovered by Gardaí.
There was no application for bail, as bail can only be granted at the High Court in a murder case.
Phelan’s solicitor Eddie O’Connor said he was not making any application on behalf of Phelan at this time and Judge McNamara remarked there was no application for legal aid.
The judge remanded Phelan in custody to appear again by video link at Cloverhill District Court next Friday.
Trinity declined to comment when contacted by The University Times.
