Barrister Accused Of Murder In Tallaght Wants To Clear His Name

Wednesday, 16 March 2022 14:13

By Caoimhe Harney

The State is opposing his application for bail.

A barrister accused of murder has told a judge he has no intention of leaving the country if he's granted bail because he wants to clear his name.

Diarmuid Phelan is accused of murdering Keith Conlon on his farm at Kiltalown Lane in Tallaght on February 22nd.

He is accused of shooting the father of four in the back of the head with a revolver shortly after he shot his dog with a rifle on his farm in Tallaght last month.

However, both guns were legally held.

Following his arrest, Mr Phelan, a barrister and lecturer of law, admitted shooting the dog after discovering it, apparently alone, on his farm.

He claims he fired into the air after three men started advancing towards him. He said he was stunned when a men fell to the ground.

Today, his barrister reminded the court that his client has a presumption of innocence and if he's not released on bail, he said his life's work will be wiped out.

He said he has a greater understanding of his obligation to meet court orders that 99.9% of the rest of the population.

'He stands for something,' he said. 'He has achieved something over decades.'

The State is opposing his application.

The judge will make her decision on Monday.

More from Local News

15 New Social Homes Open in Kilcullen

Up to 35 tenants move into energy-efficient homes close to Kilcullen town centre
Nurses At Naas General Hospital To Take Industrial Action

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says this is over a lack of action on unsafe staffing levels
€16 Million Secured For Cycling And Walking Infrastructure In Kildare

The investment forms part of a €360 million national allocation for walking and cycling infrastructure under the National Transport Authority’s Active and Sustainable Transport Programme
Kildare Has Second Highest Breast Cancer Survival Rate In The Country

The data provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín for five-year net survival for breast cancer for 2018-2022 show that nationally, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer nationally is 87.3%
A Growing Crisis: More Pensioners Facing Homelessness

Audio

Rising rents and house prices are pushing more older people into housing insecurity as many rely on the private rental market.
Vacuum-Packing Machine Lid Killed Worker As Kildare Town Firm Faces Court Over Second Fatality

The court heard that on the morning of May 14th 2020, Binak Cokaj, who was working as a packer at the company’s Curragh Road facility in Kildare Town, suffered fatal head injuries when the lid of a Cryovac vacuum-packing machine closed on him while he was at work.
Water Test Failure Disrupts On-Base Military Training At Curragh Camp

While security and day-to-day operations at the camp remain unaffected, the Defence Forces say they could not continue feeding students, resulting in the temporary suspension of on-base training courses, particularly in the Military College.
Government Told Grok Clothing-Removal Feature Has Been Disabled Worldwide

Gardai are investigating the platform after it was found to have been generating and sharing sexually explicit images of people, including children.