Diarmuid Phelan jury begins murder verdict deliberations

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Diarmuid Phelan’s murder trial had reached jury deliberations by 31 December 2024. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford had finished charging the jury the previous day, and the jury began considering its verdict.

Phelan denies murdering Keith Conlon. The defence case was that the third shot was accidental because of the weapon’s inaccuracy, Phelan’s fear and distress, and Conlon’s movements, and that he acted in self-defence. The prosecution claims he deliberately shot Conlon in the back of the head as Conlon turned to leave.

The jury was told that the possible verdicts were murder, manslaughter or acquittal. It completed its first day of deliberations and was due to resume on 27 December 2024.