Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury to begin deliberations in law professor's murder trial

Summary

A jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies killing a trespasser on his Tallaght farm. Judge Siobhan Lankford has delivered her charge to the 12 jurors, who will start deliberating at 10 am tomorrow. The trial, which began on 12 December, has been delayed by juror unavailability and extended beyond its original six‑week schedule. Phelan, 56, is charged with murdering Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, who was shot in the back of the head on 24 February 2022. The prosecution alleges Phelan fired a loaded revolver at Conlon, while the defence claims the shot was accidental. The jury will consider whether Phelan's conduct was objectively dangerous and whether self‑defence applies, with possible verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court at 10 am on Tuesday to begin deliberations.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury to begin deliberations in law professor's murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on February 24, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• December 12 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 30 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 24, 2022 Other
• Christmas Other
• 2024-12-30 Publication

Why: Ms Justice Lankford had told the jurors on December 12 that because they "were breaking for a long period" she would leave two matters over until they returned to the Central Criminal Court on December 30; a summary of the prosecution and defence cases and a document setting out "the legal questions" they must ask themselves, which would "give them a path to follow to come to the verdict". Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report