Keith Conlon was shot after trespassing on Phelan's farmland

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Diarmuid Phelan, law professor, was found not guilty of the murder of Keith Conlon in Tallaght, Co Dublin
Photograph: Diverhoyt / Wikipiedia Creative Commons licence
Diarmuid Phelan, law professor, was found not guilty of the murder of Keith Conlon in Tallaght, Co Dublin Photograph: Diverhoyt / Wikipiedia Creative Commons licence

On Friday Diarmuid Phelan, a senior counsel and Trinity law professor, was acquitted of murdering a trespasser on his farm almost three years ago.

Keith Conlon, a 35 year old father of four, had been planning to go badger-baiting on Phelan’s Co. Dublin land when he was shot in the back of the head, and died two days later from his injuries.

Neither of his associates, and witnesses to the shooting, took part in the subsequent trial.

After ten weeks, the jury returned their verdict following seven hours of deliberation.

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Legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan takes us through the evidence heard about that day in Feburary 2022, and explains what the jury had to consider.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon.

Aideen Finnegan

Aideen Finnegan

Aideen Finnegan is an audio producer at The Irish Times