Courts / Dublin / Report
Key prosecution witness in barrister's murder trial faces contempt proceedings
Summary
A key prosecution witness, Kallum Coleman, 23, who was due to testify in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 56, was arrested on a warrant issued during Phelan's trial. Coleman had left Ireland for Spain after the trial began and later agreed to return, but the jury heard he had a "change of heart" and fled when gardai stopped for refreshments en route to a Spanish airport. Coleman was involved in a trespassing incident on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm on 24 February 2022, during which Phelan shot Coleman's dog and then fired three shots from a handgun, killing Keith Conlon. Phelan was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that ended on 3 January. Coleman failed to appear on 30 October, leading to a warrant and his arrest last week. The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed the court that Coleman faces contempt proceedings before Ms Justice Lankford, who is currently conducting a trial in Cork.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Key prosecution witness in barrister's murder trial faces contempt proceedings. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- February 24, 2022 Incident
- January 3 Incident
- October 30 Incident
- 2025-01-14 Publication
Places mentioned
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