Barrister accused of murder has some bail terms suspended to take short trip

A judge has agreed to suspend some bail terms to let a senior barrister accused of murder take a short trip within the State.

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

After the shooting of his dog, Mr Conlon, from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was shot in the back of the head during the incident on Mr Phelan’s farm.

The dog breeder was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital but passed away two days later.

The High Court denied Mr Phelan bail in March.

However, the Court of Appeal later overturned that decision and released him on €100,000 bail with conditions.

The case is due to resume at Dublin District Court on July 18th for the directions of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to be obtained. But on Wednesday, the defence asked that court to lift some of the bail terms temporarily: residency, a 10pm to 8am curfew and having to sign on daily at a Garda station.

Mr Phelan was not present for the application.

His barrister Karl Monahan told the court it was to facilitate “a short trip” for two days by Mr Phelan with his family in the State.

There was no garda objection, Judge Bryan Smyth noted, and he lifted them for the two days. He added they would resume at the end of the 48 hours.

Mr Phelan must remain contactable by mobile phone.

The other bail terms set in the Court of Appeal stated he had to give gardaí access to all his Irish and foreign bank accounts.

He must stay out of Tallaght and out of his properties in Wexford and have no contact with prosecution witnesses in the case.

He was also told to surrender his passport, not leave the State, or join a gun club or purchase any firearms.

At a previous stage, the bail proceedings heard he shot a dog using his rifle or when the dog owner and his companions remonstrated that he had taken the revolver and fired three shots in their direction.

Mr Phelan claimed he was under various threats at the farm.