Barrister accused of murdering dog breeder released on €100k bail (via Independent.ie)

A senior barrister accused of murdering a man in a shooting on farmland in Dublin has taken up €100,000 bail and was released from custody on Tuesday, a court has heard.

Law professor Diarmuid Phelan (53) is accused of the murder of father-of-four, Keith Conlon, at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22.

The deceased, a dog breeder from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was seriously injured in an incident in the Hazelgrove area at the foot of the Dublin mountains.

After the shooting of his dog, Mr Conlon was shot in the back of the head.

Gardaí and emergency services arrived just after 1 pm, and Mr Conlon was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital. He remained on life support until he died two days later.

The High Court refused Mr Phelan bail in March, but the Court of Appeal overturned that decision on Friday. He had to enter into a bond of €50,000, a €50,000 independent surety was required, and he was ordered to obey several conditions.

Today his case was listed before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court, but the Trinity College lecturer did not have to attend.

Judge Blake noted from Detective Garda Michael McGrath that Mr Phelan was released from custody after taking up bail on Tuesday.

Detective Garda McGrath applied for a 12-week adjournment to obtain formal directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. He said all garda statements had been taken, and a ballistic report would be ready soon.

He said the investigation file was near finalisation and would go to the DPP soon.

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