The family of Keith Conlon expresses disappointment after law professor Diarmuid Phelan is found not guilty of his murder
Tallaght: The family of Keith Conlon is understandably upset after the law professor accused of his murder was found not guilty. Diarmuid Phelan had been on trial for shooting Conlon on his farm, but he insisted he acted in self-defense.
After the verdict, Phelan walked out of the court a free man. The jury, made up of nine men and three women, agreed with his defense that he was justified in protecting himself on his own property.
The Conlon family released a brief statement saying they were hurt and disappointed by the outcome. They asked for privacy during this tough time and didn’t want to comment further.
Phelan, who is 56, showed no reaction as the jury left the courtroom. However, he was later seen hugging his family. Meanwhile, the Conlon family left quickly after the not guilty verdict was announced.
The jury had to decide if Phelan intended to kill or seriously injure Conlon. They ultimately accepted that he was acting in self-defense, believing he was under threat from trespassers.
On the day of the incident, Phelan had shot a dog he saw running towards his sheep. He claimed that three men, including Conlon, then emerged from the woods and threatened him. Feeling scared, he fired three warning shots.
Conlon, who was 36 and from Kiltalown Park, was shot in the back of the head and died two days later in the hospital. The defense argued that the shooting was an accident, caused by a combination of stress and movement.