The jury in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who is accused of murdering an unarmed trespasser in a fatal shooting at his farm in Tallaght over two years ago, today watched dashcam and mobile phone footage captured on the day.
Garda Dara Kelly of Tallaght Garda station told Roisin Lacey SC, prosecuting, that he had examined dashcam footage downloaded from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that was recovered from the farm.
Mr Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on February 24th, 2022.
Mr Conlon, from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was shot on February 22nd and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later.
An Irishwoman sailing around the world: ‘This paradise has just seven residents and two dogs’
Tailbacks from Forty Foot stretch for miles as Christmas swimmers descend
‘What has you here?’: Eight years dead and safe in a Galway graveyard, yet here Grandad was standing before me
Róisín Ingle: My profound, challenging, surprisingly joyful, life-changing year
The jury saw seven segments of footage lasting 12 minutes, six of which came from a dashcam on the ATV.
Referring to the mobile phone footage, the garda witness said it was recorded on Mr Conlon’s phone. Garda Kelly said it shows a man in a hi-vis jacket, a snood and dark bottoms, whom the jury has been told is Mr Phelan.
The garda said the camera then “pans around” to a dog that has been shot and a man attending to the animal.
The witness said Mr Phelan has a rifle over his shoulder. He said the video showed a “verbal interaction” taking place between Mr Conlon and the accused.
In her opening address, Ms Lacey said a “very heated exchange of words” had taken place between Mr Phelan and the intruders after he shot one of the trespassers’ dogs .
The trial continues on Tuesday .
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis